BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



OF THE 



STATE OFFICERS 



AND 



MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE 

OF THE _,--—— 

STATE OF NEW YORK, ^ 
I N 1 8 5 8. 



BY 



WM. D. MURPHY. 









ALBANY: 

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 

1858. 









INTRODUCTION" 



" Biogmphers only tilings of weight, 
Lives of persons or aflhirs of state, 
Briefly, with trutli and clearness, should relate : 
Laconic shortness memory feeds." 

In presenting this volume to the public, the author has 
been itjfluenced wholly by a desire to furnish an impartial, 
truthful, anrl condensed biography of the individuals men- 
tioned therein. This, he can safely say, he has not failed to 
accomplish, and while he has encountered far more diffi- 
culty and labor than was anticipated in the beginning, he 
takes great pleasure here in ackiiowledging the valuable 
assistance he his received, in securing the material for the 
work, from the State Officers and Members of the Legisla- 
ture themselves. ^ 

It will be seen that the necessity of an index to the volume 
has been entirely obviated by th*i alphabetical order in which 
the Senators and Members of Assembly have been respect- 
ively arranged. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JOHN A. KING, 

GOVERNOR. 



Gov. King was born in the city of New York, in 
1788, and is therefore now seventy years of age. He 
would not easily, however, gain credit for such an 
advanced age. Erect, prompt, and active in his mo- 
tions, " his eye is not dim nor his natural force 
abated," and the casual observer might easily set 
him down at fifty-five years; He is the eldest son of 
the Hon. Rufus King, who filled so large and promi- 
nent a place in the early annals of this state and of 
the Union, and whose sons inherit, in so unusual a 
degree, the high order of ability and capacity for pub- 
lic life which distinguished their sire. 

Rufus King was born in Massachusetts, and filled 
consecutively the office of representative in the State 
legislature and delegate to the Constitutional conven- 
tion. He was, also, a member of the convention 
which framed the present Federal constitution, in 
1787, and enacted an influential and conspicuous part 
in its important and difficult deliberations. In the 



6 'BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

same year, he removed to New York, and became the 
first United States Senator elected from that state. 
In the Senate he was a recognized leader of the 
Federalist or Anti Democratic party. He aided in 
the expulsion of Albert Gallatin from that body, and 
subsequently, when he and Alexander Hamilton at- 
tempted to address a public meeting in the city of 
New York, called to uphold the celebrated "Jay 
Treaty " with Great Britain, the citizens refused to 
hear them, lest they might defeat the treaty. They, 
however, accomplished their purpose by publishing a 
series of articles in the newspapers of the day. Mr. 
King was again elected to the Senate in 1795, and in 
1796 resigned to accept the mission to England from 
President Washington. In 1813, and again in 1820, 
he was returned to the Senate. In 1816 he was 
nominated for Governor by his party against his own 
wishes, and was beaten by Daniel D. Tompkins, the 
Democratic candidate. 'In 1804 and 1805, he was 
also the unsuccessful Federal candidate for Vice-Pre- 
sident of the United States, and in 1816 ran unsuccess- 
fully against James Monroe for President. In 1821 
he sat in the New York State Constitutional conven- 
tion. He died in 1828, at the ripe old age of seventy- 
three, full of years and of honors. 

His friends claim for Rufus King that he was the 
originator of the celebrated Congressional ordinance 
of 1787, by which negro slavery was abolished in the 
North-west territories. When in Congress, in 1820, 
he also opposed the Missouri proviso or " Compro- 
mise," and was prominent in opposition to the ad- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 7 

mission of that state into the Union. Thomas H. 
Benton, in his " Thirty Years' View," does full 
justice to the career of Rufus King. 

The two brothers of Rufus, William and Cyrus 
King, also occupied prominent positions as statesmen. 
The former was the first Governor of Maine; the 
latter a Representative from that state in Congress. 

Charles, the second son of Rufus King, was born 
in 1789; has served in the Assembly, and was dis- 
tinguished as the editor of the New York American^ 
and the Courier and Enquirer, He is now the pre- 
sident of Columbia college. The third son, James 
King, was born in 1791, and was one of the most 
prominent bankers in New York city. He was an 
officer of the militia in the war of 1812, and was a 
prominent member of the Thirty-First Congress. The 
youngest brother, Edward King, of Cincinnati, was 
President of the Senate of the state of Ohio, and was 
once defeated for United States Senator by a single 
vote. He died in 1831. 

John A. King was mustered into the service of the 
United States in 1812, and held the rank of lieutenant^ 
in the iftilitia during the war. He has six times re- 
presented the county of Queens in the Assembly — 
during the years 1812, '20, '21, '32, '38, and '40, and 
was a member of the State Senate in 1823. In 1825 
he was Secretary of Legation at London, under his 
father. He was a member of the Thirty-First Con- 
gress, where he highly distinguished himself in de- 
bate. He opposed the Compromise measures of 1850, 
and the Fugitive Slave Law, with much ability and 



8 BIOGRAPHJCAL SKETCHES. 

zeal. In 1856 he was a delegate to the Republican 
Presidential convention at Philadelphia, and his name 
was suggested for the Vice-Presidential nomination, 
on the ticket with Col. Fremont. It is said he had 
only to signify his willingness to accept, to have se- 
sured the nomination, which was given to Mr. Day- 
ton, of New Jersey. 

By profession Gov. King is a lawyer, but for many 
years his occupation has been that of a farmer. He 
possesses a large fortune, and has devoted much of 
his leisure to the study of agriculture as a science. 
His addresses on this subject delivered on various 
occasions, and his selection as president of the New 
York State Agricultural society, are strong evidence 
that he is not at all unfamiliar with it. Like another 
Cincinnatus, however, he has always been ready to 
leave the plow at the call of his country. He lives 
in the young Patroon's mansion, at Albany, which has 
been elegantly and tastefully fitted up, where, follow- 
ing his example at Washington, he dispenses the hos- 
pitalities of the Executive mansion in a manner that 
equals any of his predecessors. 

As a speaker Gov. King is effective. His fine, 
open countenance, commanding presence, rich, sonor- 
ous voice, and graceful gesticulation, carry conviction 
to the most unwilling listener. He is earnest and 
impassioned — a man of positive, affirmative, and 
self-reliant character. He is an excellent debater — 
logical and forcible, and has never failed to take a 
leading part in the various parliamentary bodies of 
which he has been a member. He is personally a 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 9 

popular man. He has a genial, frank way, which 
never fails to set the visitor at ease. He is much 
liked by the people of Albany, among whom he is no 
stranger. The Executive chamber is daily thronged 
with visitors, and in the dispatch of business he is 
ably seconded by his Private Secretary, the Hon. 
Henry I. Seaman, formarly member of Congress from 
the First district, and a most capable and efficient 
assistant in the multifarious duties of the office. The 
post of Governor is no sinecure. 

Gov. King was elected to his present high position 
by a majority of about eighty-eight thousand votes 
over Amasa J. Parker, the Democratic candidate, in 
the fall of 1856. He is strong with his party, and 
has given apparent general satisfaction to all its mem- 
bers. It is currently supposed that he will be nomi- 
nated for re-election, should such be his desire in the 
coming summer. Long may he live to enjoy the 
blessings of a grateful people for the good he has done 
in the great cause of his country! 



HENRY R. SBLDEN, 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. 

Lieut.-Gov. Selden is a native of Lyme, New Lon- 
don county, Conn., where he was born on the 14th of 
October, 1805, and is descended from highly respect- 
able and intelligent parents. He was sent to the vil- 
lage school at an early age, and received a liberal 



10 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

education. In September, 1825, he left home to seek 
his fortune in a new country, and emigrating to New 
York, settled at Rochester, where he immediately be- 
gan the study of the law in the office of Addison 
Gardner, late of the Court of Appeals, and formerly 
Lieutenant-Governor, and his brother- Samuel L. 
Selden, now a member of the Court of Appeals, who 
were then in copartnership. He pursued his legal 
studies with unremitting diligence and attention about 
five years, and was admitted to the bar at Utica, in 
July, 1830, when he immediately began to practice in 
the town of Clarkson, Monroe county, where he has 
resided ever since in the constant pursuit of his pro- 
fession. 

In January, 1851, Mr. Selden became reporter in 
the Court of Appeals, and held the position until 
July, 1854, wlien he resigned in consequence of ill 
health, although he esteemed the office a most desir- 
able one. On the 15th of October, 1856, he set sail 
for Europe, partly for the recovery of his health and 
on business, and returned to the United States, very 
much improved, in the succeeding month of December. 
In the fall of the same year he was, unexpectedly to 
himself, nominated by the Republican State conven- 
tion at Syracuse, as a candidate for Lieutenant-Go- 
vernor, and while absent in Europe, was triumphantly 
elected by a very large plurality. He entered upon the 
responsibilities of his office on the 1st day of January, 
1857, and has since then discharged his duties in the 
most successful and satisfactory manner, proving 
himself admirably qualified for the high and responsi- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 11 

ble position of presiding officer of the Senate, and a 
worthy successor of such men as Pierre Van Cort- 
landt, the first Lieutenant-Governor the state ever 
had, De Witt Clinton, John Taylor, Erastus Root, 
Edward P. Livingston, Daniel S. Dickinson, Hamil- 
ton Fish, and Sanford E. Church. 

Mr.Selden has never been ambitious as a politician, 
though by no means an indifferent observer of the 
ordinary course of political eventf, and has always 
been reluctantly drawn from the walks of private life 
to fill the positions to which he has been chosen. He 
is emphatically a lawyer, always preferring, to every 
thing else, the quiet and unostentatious pursuit of his 
profession, which he has never abandoned since his 
admission to the bar, and in which he has always en- 
joyed an extensive and lucrative practice. He pos- 
sesses a strong, active vigor of intellect, which probabljr 
received much of its legal bent from the influences of 
those eminent jurists with whom he pursued his studies, 
and he is now justly regarded one of the first lawyers 
in the state. His professional services are eagerly 
sought after in all sections of the state, and lie has 
more business than he can properly attend to, without 
infringing upon a satisfactory discharge of his duties 
as Lieutenant-Governor. 

In person Mr. Selden is somewhat below the me- 
dium height and slender in form; has light hair, light 
blue eyes, a thin visage, and a pale complexion. He 
is kind and courteous in his manner; always has a 
smile for every one; and is deservedly popular where- 
ever he is personally known. 



12 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



STATE OFFICERS. 



GIDEON J. TUCKER, 

SECRETARY OF STATE. 

Mr. Tucker was born in the Fifth Ward of New 
York city, *' beneath the shadow of old St. John's 
church steeple." as he is accustomed to say, in the 
year 1827, and is therefore the youngest State officer 
ever elected or appointed in the State. His father's 
family are of English extraction, having been among 
the early settlers of Maryland, and on his mother's 
side he is of *' New York Dutch " descent. 

Mr. Tucker received a classical education, and was 
entered for the bar. He read law in the offices of 
Francis B. Cutting and Stephen Cambreleng, and re- 
ceived his license to practice from the Supreme Court 
in 1848. He was, however, early allured from the 
rigid profession of the law into the more enticing pur- 
suit of politics. While a law student he had taljen 
no inconsiderable interest in the partisan affairs of the 
day, and especially, during the sessions of the Consti- 
tutional convention in 1846, had frequently contri- 
buted to the newspaper discussions to which its action 
gave rise. In this and the following year he was 
constantly writing for the political press, almost al- 
ways anonymously. He took ground against the new 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 13 

constitution, and subsequently against the anti slavery 
agitation. 

In 1851 Mr. Tucker was nominated for the As- 
sembly, in the ward (forming by itself an Assembly 
District) in which he was born, which was then one 
of the strongest Whig districts in the city. He was 
defeated, though running far in advance of his ticket. 
In the same year he suffered a more important and 
indeed an overwhelming pecuniary reverse, by the 
decision of the Court of Appeals, upon a law suit in- 
volving the will of a relative under which he was a con- 
siderable legatee. He then abandoned the law entirely, 
perhaps in disgust, and seeking other employment, 
solicited and received from Comptroller Wright an 
appointment to a clerkship in his office at Albany. " 

In the Comptroller's department Mr. Tucker spent 
over a year at the desk, adding to his income mean- 
while by contributions to the Albany Argus, then 
edited by Sherman Croswell. In the mean time the 
division in the Democratic ranks had widened, and 
while the Comptroller adhered to the section known 
as the " Softs," Mr. Tucker, with the Argus, belonged 
to that called the "Hards." Not deeming it honor- 
able for him to retain his position in Mr. Wright's 
office under such circumstances, Mr. Tucker resigned; 
and while the Comptroller accepted the resignation, 
he most generously and courteously expressed his 
regret at the separation, and the personal intercourse 
of the two gentlemen has always remained on the kind- 
est and most friendly footing. 

Mr. Tucker was soon alter tendered a valuable 
2 



14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

appointment by Collector Bronson, in the New York 
Custom House, but preferring an editorial to an official 
position, he purchased a small interest from Edwin 
Croswell in "The Albany Argus," and fully entered 
the editorial list, to take part in the conflict of factions 
which followed. During 1853 and 1854 his pen was 
active in the political columns of the Argus. He was 
one of the earliest and boldest champions of the 
Kansas-Nebraska bill, which he defended with much 
zeal. After the defeat of Judge Bronson, as the De- 
mocratic candidate for Governor, in 1854, however, 
Messrs. Croswell & Tucker were compelled to part 
with their interest in the concern, and the latter re- 
turned to his native city, where he founded and began 
to edit the New York Daily News. This paper imme- 
diately took rank as the leading organ of the "Hard" 
Democratic party. 

In 1856 Mr. Tucker was chosen one of the delegates 
from his section of the state, to attend the Cincinnati 
Presidential convention. While actively employed in 
the campaign which followed, he was compelled by 
failing health to temporarily withdraw from his edi- 
torial labors, and his retirement from the News was 
announced in the columns of that paper on the 1st of 
September, 1856. Relieved of this incessant care and 
responsibility, he rapidly recovered his health, and a 
winter spent at Washington, in a more genial climate, 
quite restored it. In the spring of 1857 he was unani- 
mously elected one of the *' Sachems " of the Tam- 
many society, doubtless the most influential political 
association in the United States. This election of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 15 

Mr. Tucker is said to be the first unanimous election 
of a " Sachem " to be found in the records of that 
society, 

In the Democratic State convention, which assem- 
bled at Syracuse on the 10th of September, 1857, Mr. 
Tucker's name was brought forward, with unusual 
unanimity, for the nomination of Secretary of State. 
There were double delegations from New York city, 
contesting each other's right to seats, and dissentients 
upon all other questions, but every delegate claiming 
to represent that city was friendly to Mr. Tucker's 
nomination. Delegates from every portion of the 
rural districts were equally unanimous in his favor, 
and he received, upon the call of the roll, the votes of 
one hundred and twenty of the one hundred and 
twenty-eight delegates composing the convention, 
which was a most flattering and unequivocal compli- 
ment. The campaign which followed is fresh in the 
recollection of all. Mr. Tucker received the highest 
vote cast for any candidate upon the state ticket, and 
was elected by the largest plurality. 

Mr. Tucker is a man of courteous and affable de- 
meanor, and decidely frank in his manners and expres- 
sions. In political matters he is prompt, decided and 
inflexible. Whether he has been on the right or the 
wrong side in politics, it belongs not here to discuss, 
but this much may safely be averred — he has always 
been on the same side. Like most men of the pen, he 
is not an orator, a natural diffidence preventing him 
from speech-making. He is a rapid and accurate re- 
porter, and his reports of Legislative proceedings in the 



16 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Argus of 1853 and '54 were considered inferior only 
to those of Mr. Croswell. As an editor he holds a 
distinguished rank. His writings are brilliant and 
argumentative, while free from personal acrimony and 
virulence. Among the members of the editorial pro- 
fession, of all politics and all shades of opinion, he is 
universally and deservedly popular, and there are 
perhaps few men in public life who can boast a wider 
circle of personal friends. He entered, at the age of 
thirty, upon the administration of an office, which has 
numbered among its many illustrious incumbents, such 
statesmen as John A. Dix, John C. Spencer, Samuel 
Young, and Nathanial S. Benton. This distinction he 
has bravely won for himself, at so unusual an age, by 
consistency of principle and fidelity to friends. 



SANFORD E. CHURCH, 

COMPTROLLER. 

Mr. Church is a native of Milford, Otsego county, 
N. Y., where he was born on the 18th of April, 1815. 
He is of English descent, and his parents were origin- 
ally from Connecticut. When he was quite young 
his father removed to Monroe county, where he still 
resides. He received an ordinary academical educa- 
tion at the Monroe academy, and at the age of twenty, 
located himself at Albion, Orleans county, where he 
has always since lived. The limited means of his 
father compelled him to rely almost exclusively upon 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 17 

his own resources for an education, and in order to 
support himself at the academy during the summer 
months, he was obliged to teach a common district 
school for four or five winters previous to going to 
Albion. He then became a deputy in the County 
Clerk's office at that place, which position he held 
three years. During all this time he was studying 
law, but in the spring of 1838 began a regular 
course of legal training, by devoting his whole time 
and attention to it, and began to practice in 1840. 

Mr. Church commenced his political career in the 
fall of 1841, when he was elected a member of the 
Assembly from Orleans county, which then constitut- 
ed a single district, against a majority the previous 
year of seven hundred. The Legislature of 1842 
included among its members such men as John A. 
Dix, Michael Hoffman, Horatio Seymour, Levi S. 
Chatfield, and George R. Davis, of Troy, and was 
decidedly the ablest legislative body ever assembled 
in the state. Although the youngest member in the 
House, Mr. Church immediately took a prominent 
part in all its deliberations, and was chiefly instru- 
mental in the selection of George P. Barker, of Buf- 
falo, as Attorney General. He was a warm personal 
friend of Mr. Barker, and at once entered into the 
contest with great enthusiasm, tempered with caution 
and cool judgment. The fact that he had been elect- 
ed from a county politically opposed to him, and in 
the eighth district, where it was supposed no Democrat 
ever could be elected to the legislature, counteracted 
the effect of his youthful appearance, and his strong 



18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

common sense and consummate tact were soon mani- 
fest to the sagacious politicians then at Albany. 
When it was moved in the Democratic caucus to 
proceed to ballot for Attorney General, he arose and 
offered a resolution that the representation from each 
Senate district should cast the number of votes of the 
members of the legislature from the district. The 
resolution was offered, not with a view to its passage, 
but to impress upon the caucus the claims of Western 
New York and thereby those of Mr. Barker. He then 
addressed the caucus on his resolution, with marked 
ability and earnestness, depicting the struggles of the 
Democracy in that portion of the state for a quarter 
of a century, with overwhelming majorities against 
them, unable to have, from year to year, a single 
voice in a Democratic legislative caucus, and deprived 
of all participation in the election of officers who then 
received their appointment from the legislature. He 
appealed to the magnanimity of the members of the 
caucus to do an act of justice to a meritorious class 
of fellow Democrats, and his appeal met a most mag- 
nanimous response. As soon as he had closed his 
remarks, the Hon. George Rathbon, who was a promi- 
nent candidate, went to his friends, requesting them 
to vote for Mr. Barker, and many who were before 
doubtful, at once avowed themselves in favor of his 
support. The current was irresistibly turned in his 
favor, and notwithstanding the great and prominent 
names and influences that were arraigned against him, 
he received the nomination, on the third ballot, and 
the result of the contest was received With the best 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. * 19 

of feeling in every quarter. For his agency in this 
nomination Mr. Church received from Mr. Barker the 
title of " the Democratic Member from the Eighth," 
by which designation he was known during the re- 
mainder of the session. 

In 1845 Mr. Church was appointed District Attor- 
ney of Orleans county. In 1846 he was a candidate 
for Congress against Gov. Hunt, in what was then a 
very strong Whig district, and although defeated, ran 
far ahead of his ticket. At the first election under 
the new constitution, in 1847, he was elected District 
Attorney of his county by five hundred majority. In 
1849 he was the candidate of his party for the Senate 
against Alonzo S. Upham in the eighth district, then 
comprising the counties of Orleans, Genesee and 
Niagara, and although defeated, received majorities in 
Niagara and Orleans, which were then strong Whig 
counties. When Horatio Seymour was nominated for 
Governor, in 1850, he was placed upon the same 
ticket as a candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, and 
was elected by about eight thousand majority, while 
Washington Hunt defeated Mr. Seymour by between 
two and three thousand votes. In 1852 he was again 
nominated for Lieutenant-Governor, and was re-elected 
with Gov. Seymour, who was again placed upon the 
ticket as the Democratic candidate for Governor. At 
this election Mr. Church received two hundred and 
seventy- five thousand votes, which was a larger num- 
ber than any other candidate had ever before received 
in the state. He declined a nomination for Lieuten- 
ant- Governor in 1854, and returned to the practice of 



20 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

his profession which he had never entirely relin- 
quished, during his whole political career. In 1856 
he was a candidate for Congress, but owing to the 
Kansas excitement which then swept over ihe North 
like a wnirlwind, was defeated by Silas M. Burroughs, 
the Republican candidate. The Democratic State 
convention, at Syracuse, in 1857, nominated him, 
against his own wishes, with unusual unanimity, for 
the office of Comptroller, and he was triumphantly 
elected. 

Mr. Church was married in October, 1840, to Miss 
Ann Wild, formerly of New Hampshire, by whom he 
has two children. She is a companion in every re- 
spect suitable to him, sympathizing with and lighten- 
ing his cares as they pass along together the journey 
of life, in domestic happiness and tranquility. He 
attends the Episcopal church, and although not a 
regular member of that denomination, is always deeply 
interested in whatever pertains to its permanent pros- 
perity. He is a man much above the medium size, 
being tall, with a robust and vigorous frame, and is 
apparently the very personification*. of good health. 
He ranks high as an orator, and his voice has often 
been raised in different portions of the state in behalf 
of the doctrines of the great Democratic party. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 21 



ISAAC Y. YANDERPOEL, 

TREASURER. 

Mr. Vanderpoel was born in 1814, in Kinderhook, 
Columbia county, New York, and is a descendant of 
one of the oldest families in the state. His great- 
grand-father emigrated from Holland as early as 1609, 
and settled on Long Island. He was among the ear- 
liest residents of what is now the state of New York, 
as the Documentary History of the State will show. 

The subject of this sketch is the son of the late 
Benjamin Yanderpoel, of Kinderhook, an original 
*' Buck-Tail" Democrat of the old school, who has 
held several offices of honor and emolument in Colum- 
bia county. He was appointed Sheriff under the old 
Council of Appointment, by Gov. George Clinton, with 
whom he was on intimate terms. The Vanderpoel 
family was of the genuine Knickerbocker stock, and 
their associations were with the Yan Burens, the 
Yan Rensselaers, the Yan Nesses, the Livingstons, 
the Yan Schaacks, the Yan Dycks, and others, whose 
names and reputations are part and parcel of the his^ 
tory of the state. 

Mr. Yanderpoel was educated at the Kinderhook 
academy, under the tuition of Levi Gleason. Among 
his classmates were the Hon. Isaac A. Yerplanck, of 
Bulfalo, and H. H. Yan Dyck, of Albany — gentlemen 
who speak in high terms of the thoroughness and 
practical character of the instruction they received 
at this institution, Mr. Yanderpoel completed the 



22 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

full course of study here, and graduated with credit. 
Soon after, he entered the law office of Messrs. J. & 
A. Vanderpoel, in his native" village, where, for four 
years, he read law and made occasional demonstra- 
tions in the way of practice. At the expiration of 
this time, he went to New York city, to complete his 
legal studies and was admitted to the office of Price 
& Sears, a firm well known to the profession as one 
of high reputation. At the October term of the Su- 
preme Court, in 1834, he was admitted to the bar, 
and immediately removed to the town of Aurora, in 
Erie county, where he became a partner of P. M. 
Vosburgh, now the Clerk of that county. After 
practicing in Aurora two years, he went to Buffalo 
and formed a law partnership with F. P. Stevens, 
who was then a Democrat. 

In 1837, at the time of the Patriot war, Mr. Van- 
derpoel was appointed Brigade Inspector of the 47th 
regiment of the New York state militia, by Gov. 
Marcy, which office he held eight years. He is 
said to have discharged his military duties with 
promptness and gallantry and to universal satisfac- 
tion. In 1838, when Erie county was one Assembly 
district, and when the Democratic party was in a de- 
plorable minority, he was a candidate for the Assem- 
bly, and ran ahead of his ticket. In those days the 
most sanguine Democrat scarcely dared to dream of 
"the good time coming," when the county should be 
emancipated from the rule of the Opposition, and roll 
up a respectable Democratic majority. From this 
time until 1847 he declined to be a candidate, but 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 23 

never failed to be heard on the stump in behalf of 
Democratic principles. He was then again nominated 
for the Assembly, and came as near an election as a 
straight Democrat then could. He has been a dele- 
gate to state conventions twelve different times from 
Erie county, and has always occupied a prominent 
position in the Democratic party. During the ad- 
ministration of Franklin Pierce he was recommend- 
ed by both branches of the legislature, by Gov. Sey- 
mour, and by prominent gentlemen in the party 
throughout the state for Charge d'Affairs to the Hague, 
but it was not his good fortune to be rotated in, it 
being, probably, thought advisable to keep the work- 
ing Democrats at home. 

In the fall of 1856 Mr. Vanderpoel was nominated 
on the Democratic Presidential electoral ticket for 
his district, but, unfortunately for the Democratic 
party, he and thirty-three other sound Democrats 
were deprived of the privilege of casting their votes 
in the electoral capacity for Mr. Buchanan. He took 
a very active part throughout the whole campaign, 
and besides speaking in nearly every ward in Buffalo, 
and every town in Erie county, canvassed largely 
in several other counties in Western New York and in 
Pennsylvania. He has always been popular with the 
masses as a speaker. With a clear perception of the 
issues involved, a lucid style of speaking, and a pleas- 
ing address, he combines an agreeable modicum of 
pleasantry, so that he iwver fails to attract and hold 
the attention of his auditors. 

Mr. Vanderpoel was not an applicant for the office 



24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

which he now holds, but the Democratic convention 
which nominated him, recognizing the proud position 
of Erie county in the party, and taking into conside- 
ration the fact, that after so many years of Whig rule, 
she had elected the only Democratic Congressman 
west of Albany, could not refuse to place his name 
upon the ticket as a compliment to that county. He 
was accordingly nominated by acclamation, and was 
triumphantly elected by a handsome plurality of votes. 
He has barely just entered upon the discharge of the 
duties of the office, and it remains to be seen with 
what success he will meet the expectations of his 
friends and the just demands of the people of the 
state. He is doubtless one of the finest looking men 
at the state capital, being tall and well proportioned, 
with a full, rosy face, and a frank, open and intelli- 
gent countenance; but he is married and hence not in 
the matrimonial market. 



LYMAN TREMAIN, 

ATTORNEY GENERAL. 

Mr. Tremain was born on the 14th of June, 1819, 
in Durham, Greene county, N, Y., a thriving agricul- 
tural town, situated beneath the shadow of the Cats- 
kill mountains, about twenty miles west of the Hudson 
river. His father, Levi Tremain, with his wife, emi- 
grated to that place, in 1812, from Berkshire county, 
Mass., a section cf country to which any one might 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 25 

well be proud to trace his ancestry, and to which may- 
be referred many of the brightest intellects now to be 
found in many portions of the country. His parents, 
who are still living, are distinguished in a more than 
ordinary degree for the shrewdness and intelligence of 
their fatherland, mingled with a humor and spright- 
liness but seldom found in those who have passed the 
meridian of life. His grandfather, Nathaniel Tremain, 
who died only a few years since at Pittsfield, Mass., 
was a Revolutionary soldier, and having contributed 
his full share of service to the purchase of American 
freedom, turned his attention, at the close of the war, 
to the honest and quiet occupation of the husbandman, 
which he followed during the remainder of his days. 
The only means of education enjoyed by Mr. Tre- 
main, were those afforded by the common and select 
schools of his native town and the Kinderhook aca- 
demy. He was, however, a faithful and diligent scho- 
lar, always taking the lead in his studies, and, at the 
close of his academic career, had acquired a far better 
education than most of the young men at the present 
day possess at the end of a regular college course. In 
1834, although then but fifteen years of age, he entered 
the law office of John O'Brien, of Durham, as a student 
at law, and immediately commenced trying causes in 
Justices* courts, not only in his own county, but in the 
counties of Schoharie, Albany, and Delaware, in which 
he was very successful, acquiring great skill in the 
management of all the cases entrusted to him. At 
these trials crowds always flocked, as they said, "to 
hear the boy plead law," and seldom failed to be 
3 



26 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

amazed at the skill and ingenuity with which he, at so 
young an age, conducted his causes. During this ex- 
tensive practice, however, his studies were by no 
means neglected, and no student ever attended more 
closely to them, as an evidence of which, it is said, 
that while pursuing the ordinary course of studies, he 
read through every volume of Cowen and Wendell's 
reports — a task from which older heads might well 
shrink in despair. After leaving the office of Mr. 
O'Brien, he passed a few months with Samuel Sher- 
wood, an eminent lawjer in New York city, and was 
then, at the age of twenty-one, admitted to practice 
in the Supreme Court of New York. His fame as a 
lawyer having already become extensive, he immedi- 
ately entered upon a large and lucrative practice, in 
his own, and the adjoining counties, which has been 
steadily increasing ever since. 

Early in life Mr. Tremain embarked on the exciting 
and stormy sea of politics, and, unlike many others, 
has successfully guided his bark in safety, amid the 
dangers, seen and unseen, peculiar to that troubled 
ocean. His voice was heard and his pen known and 
felt on all suitable occasions, and contributed in no 
small degree to the advancement of the principles of 
the Democratic party in his county and state — a party 
of which he has always been a warm, ardent, and 
consistent supporter. His resolutions, speeches, and 
addresses evinced a knowledge of history, of public 
and political afifairs, and a maturity of judgment but 
seldom surpassed by the older veterans of his party, 
and his fame became so well known that his voice and 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 27 

pen were often, subsequently, called by his party to 
other portions of the state, to take an active part in 
the various political contests between the two great 
parties of the country. 

At the early age of twenty-three Mr. Tremain was 
nominated by the Democracy of his native town as a 
candidate for Supervisor. The town was then strongly 
Whig, but notwithstanding this, and the old maxim, 
that a *' prophet is not without honor save in his own 
country," he was triumphantly elected by a handsome 
majority. In February, 1846, he was appointed Dis- 
trict Attorney of Greene county. The county judges 
were divided by the divisions which then distracted 
the Democratic party, but they all united in conferring 
the appointment upon him. An unusual amount of 
important criminal business fell to his lot during the 
brief period which he held the office, but he discharged 
it with an energy and fidelity that elevated him still 
higher as a lawyer in the estimation of the people and 
his associates at the bar. In 1847 he received the 
regular nomination of his party as a candidate for the 
office of County Judge, and was elected at the Judicial 
election in June of that year. In his election to this 
office, which embraced that of Surrogate, he had a 
Whig and Democrat competitor, both of whom were 
popular and leading men in the county, and resided 
at the county seat, which gave them a great advantage ; 
but he was elected by a large majority over both, and 
a majority over the regular Opposition candidate of 
twelve hundred, which was a larger majority than was 
ever given in the county when the Democratic party 



28 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was united. He was again nominated for the same 
office in 1850, and although, by throwing out the returns 
of one election district on the ground of fraud, the can- 
vassers awarded him an election, he declined, under 
the circumstances, to accept the office, in an address to 
the people of the county,which was satisfactory to them 
and creditable to himself. In Nov., 1853, he removed 
from Greene county, and locating himself in Albany, 
where he still resides, formed a law partnership with 
the Hon. Rufus W. Peckham, of that place, which 
still exists, and continued his practice with increased 
success. His reputation as a lawyer now increased 
more rapidly than ever, and in the fall of 1857, he was 
nominated with great unanimity, by the Democratic 
State convention at Syracuse, as a candidate for At- 
torney-General. The contest which followed, and in 
which he took an active part, addressing large meet- 
ings at different prominent points in the state, was 
spirited and enthusiastic, and although, according to 
the result of the Presidential election the year pre- 
vious, his party was greatly in the minority, he was 
successful by a plurality of upwards of sixteen thou- 
sand. 

Mr. Tremain gave unmistakable evidence, very 
early in life, of more than ordinary capacity as a 
speaker and now occupies a prominent position be- 
fore the country as a first class orator. When only 
fourteen years of age he delivered an original speech 
at the semi-annual exhibition of the Kinderhook aca- 
demy, which was loudly applauded and universally 
admired. He possesses a voice of great compass and 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 29 

richness, combined with a good articulation and that 
self-possession, easy flow of language, and earnestness 
of manner, which are so essential in the real orator, 
and whether before a jury, the court, or a promiscuous 
audience, rarely fails to influence the will and the 
judgment of his hearers. To this he adds an obliging 
disposition and courteous manner, and is thus gene- 
rally rendered very popular wherever he is known. 
He is truly a striking example of the influence of re- 
publican institutions in assigning to genius and talent 
their proper station and reward; and being now only 
in the prime of life, with a large robust frame, and a 
sound vigorous constitution, he has doubtless still 
before him a long career of usefulness and honor. 



VAN R. RICHMOND, 

STATE ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR. 

Mr. Richmond was born in January, 1812, in the 
town of Preston, Chenango county, N. Y. He is the 
eldest son of Oliver Richmond, a farmer in that 
county, who died at an advanced age, in 1853. He 
received a good practical business education at the 
Oxford academy in Chenango county, and as early as 
1834, when quite a young man, received from the state 
the appointment of chairman in the engineering force 
engaged upon the Chenango canal, which was then 
in process of construction. Here he remained until 
1837, gradually rising in point of rank, when he was 



30 BIOGiliLPHICAL SKETCHES. 

appointed Resident engineer on the Erie canal, and 
was located at Lyons, where he now resides. In 1843, 
his location was changed from this place to Syracuse, 
when he took charge of the entire Middle division of 
the New York State canals, under Jonas Earll and 
Daniel P. Bissell as Canal Commissioners. In 1848 
he resigned this position, and accepted an appointment 
on the Oswego rail road. It was decided about this 
time by the Whig Canal board to run an independent 
line for the enlarged canal from Jordan to the Cayuga 
marshes; but they had no man in their employ to 
whom they felt safe in entrusting the work, and after 
canvassing the merits of all the engineers of the state, 
an appointment for the execution of the task, in a 
separate capacity, was tendered to Mr. Richmond. 
He accepted, and immediately entered upon the work. 
He submitted a line for the canal, and a plan for the 
aqueduct across the Seneca river, which were adopted, 
and the work was immediately put under contract. 
This aqueduct is doubtless the most important struc- 
ture on the Erie canal, and fittingly attests the skill 
and genius of its originator. 

In 1850, when Mr. Richmond had satisfactorily 
arranged the plan of this noble piece of work across 
the Seneca river, he resigned his position, to take the 
appointment of Division engineer of the Syracuse and 
Rochester direct railroad, in which capacity he was 
engaged until 1852, when, at the instance of Wm. J. 
McAlpine, he was appointed Division engineer of 
the Middle division of the New York State canals. 
In the fall of 1853, a Whig Canal board was again 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. dJ^ 

elected, including the Hon. John T. Clark, as State 
Engineer. As Mr. Richmond had always been a De- 
mocrat, strong efforts were made to accomplish his 
removal; but Mr. Clark refused to give his sanction 
to the measure and he was retained — a circumstance 
as creditable to Mr. Clark as it was complimentary 
to Mr. Richmond. In the winter of 1856, the Ameri- 
can party came into possession of the Canal board, 
and being a Democrat, he was removed from office 
for the first and only time in his life. From that 
period he lived in retirement at his home in Lyons, 
until he was nominated and elected for the distin- 
guished position which he now occupies as State 
Engineer and Surveyor. 

During the twenty years Mr. Richmond has been 
in the service of the state as an engineer, he has 
proven himself equal to any in industry, integrity, 
and fidelity to the interests of the people, and there 
is scarcely more than one, perhaps, in the state, who 
can surpass hiiji in the line of his profession. He is 
no doubt well calculated to adorn the responsible 
office in which he is now placed, and while preventing 
the fraud and corruption hitherto too often practiced 
at the connivance of some of his predecessors, he will 
doubtless make an eminently honest and economical 
disbursement of the public moneys falling into his 
hands for the prosecution of the various enterprises 
connected with the great canal works of the state. 

In 1837 Mr. Richmond was married to Miss Anna 
A. Dennison, who died in the spring of 1854, and by 
whom he has three children living. In person he is 



32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

tall and slender, though having the indications of an 
ability for more than ordinary physical endurance; 
has light hair, light blue eyes, fair complexion, and a 
quick, active step, denoting a restless, working mind. 
With him the old maxim, *' nil mortalibus ardui est,'' 
is a standing rule in his capacity as an Engineer, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 33 



SENATORS. 



CHENEY AMES. 

Senator Ames was born in 1808, in the town of 
Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y. His parents, who 
emigrated from Connecticut with a young and small 
family, were among the first settlers of that then 
wilderness, and were subject to all the privations, toil, 
and difficulties peculiar to a pioneer life, having to go 
a great distance to mill, and being without schools, 
churches, or any of those social advantages we now 
enjoy. The limited means and scanty requital of their 
hardy labor deprived them not only of many of the 
ordinary comforts of life, but rendered it necessary for 
the children of a subsequently numerous family, con- 
sisting of four sisters and seven brothers, all of whom 
still reside in the county of Oswego, to join in the 
labor of self support. 

The father of Senator Ames was a man of strict 
integrity ; upright and honorable in all his dealings, and 
lived and died respected by all who knew him. His 
mother was a woman of much more than ordinary ca- 
pability. Endowed by nature with a strong and abiding 
constitution, light, agile frame, and buoyant and hope- 
ful in spirit, with much vivacity of mind and elasticity 
of character, she was fully enabled to successfully adapt 



34 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

herself to all the vicissitudes of her long and toilsome 
life. Not only did she discharge with promptness and 
fidelity, all and every duty of a wife and mother, but 
she was rendered eminently worthy of imitation by her 
kindness of heart and sympathy for the poor and dis- 
tressed. Her enlarged benevolence and open hand 
were restrained only by the means to relieve, but still 
her sympathetic tear and kind words often encouraged 
many an one to try again. She was peculiarly a coun- 
selor of the young, whom she always exhorted to make 
God their early choice, and to adopt tlie maxim, that 
"honesty is always the best policy," and with these 
principles as their guide, she would bid them press 
forward in honest industry, as the way to success was 
open to all. With the precepts of such a mother, 
Senator Ames was sent forth, at the tender age of 
fourteen, without educational advantages, and appren- 
ticed to the hatting business, in the little village of 
Delph, Onondaga county, N. Y. After spending five 
years in the hard and toilsome service of this occupa- 
tion, with but a few months' common schooling in the 
mean time, his employer failed in business, leaving our 
young adventurer once more upon his own resources. 
True to the strongly expressed wish of his father, that 
all his boys should be brought up to laborious trades, 
instead of the popular professions, he sallied forth with 
his little all, consisting of his wardrobe and a few 
books, the reading of which occupied his leisure, for 
further employment. He sought and found employ- 
ment in the same business, in the village of Cortland- 
ville, Cortland county, where, after spending one year 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 35 

in the further prosecution of his trade, he induced 
his former employer, although, like himself, without 
means, to purchase the establishment, and once more 
undertake to retrieve his broken fortune. 

Senator Ames remained in this village eight years, 
in the capacity of apprentice, clerk, partner and prin- 
cipal in the business to which he had been educated, 
and met with that success with which uprightness, in- 
dustry and frugality are ever crowned. Becoming 
dissatisfied, however, with the limited business of his 
trade, in an interior town, he was, in 1837, induced 
to turn his attention to a wider sphere, where his 
active mind might have more scope and a larger field 
in which to operate. Accordingly, in May of that year, 
he settled in the village of Oswego, where he has since 
lived, mingling with the most active citizens of that 
place, in all that is calculated to promote its growth 
and prosperity. Active in business and energetic in cha- 
racter, he has stemmed the current of events, and met 
the various adverses ol life with a mind and a will to 
overcome that has enabled him to progress from one 
.stage of success to another, until he has achieved a 
position in business and society worthy of imitation. 
Senator Ames is now the leading partner of a firm 
extensively engaged in the grain and flour trade, as a 
commission merchant in the city of Oswego. He suc- 
cessfully carried his establishment through the late 
financial crisis, without suspension or extension, and 
now ranks as one of the first in his profession, as a 
man of honor, integrity and ability, worth the toil and 
perseverance it has cost to attain it. 



36 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES., 

In his youth Senator Ames adopted the principles 
instilled into his mind by his pious mother, and has 
always been a firm believer and supporter of the Gos- 
pel, as preached and held forth by the Presbyterian 
branch of the church. He is also a consistent advo- 
cate of the cause of Temperance, and all other moral 
and benevolent objects that have for their design the 
amelioration of the condition of mankind. In politics 
he is a warm and cordial Republican, often taking the 
stump, and is ever ready and willing to give his rea- 
sons for the hope and faith within him on this subject. 

With a unanimity seldom equaled, Senator Ames 
was brought forward by the Republican Senatorial 
convention of the Twenty-first district, in the fall of 
1857, as a suitable person to fill the seat which he 
now occupies, and was most triumphantly elected. It 
remains to be seen with what credit he will discharge 
the new duties to which he has been called. He brings 
with him to the position, the experience of a practical 
man, who has hitherto neither disappointed himself or 
friends ; and should he succeed in guiding the legisla- 
tion of the Senate on the important subject of Com- 
merce and Navigation (on the Standing Committee of 
which he is chairman), as successfully as lie has hither- 
to guided his own destiny, his constituents and the 
state will doubtless have no cause to regret his pro- 
motion to his present position. 

In person he is rather below the medium size ; is 
thin visaged, with a quick, active step, sharp, blue 
eyes, and a high intellectual forehead. 



BIOGRAPHIC&L SKETCHES, 37 



TRUMAN B A R D M A N . 

Senator Boardman was born in February, in the year 
1810, and is therefore forty-eight years of age. He 
is a thorough-bred Yankee, and a native of the town of 
Covert, Seneca county, N. Y., where he has always 
resided. His father, Allyn Boardman, was an old 
established resident of that place, and followed the 
honest occupation of a tanner and currier. He had 
four sons, of whom Truman is the third, Douglas 
Boardman, recently Judge and Surrogate of Tompkins 
county, being the youngest. He succeeded, by his 
industry and perseverance, in the acquisition of 
considerable wealth, during his lifetime, and the 
subject of this sketch now owns, and is living upon 
the old homestead place. 

Senator Boardman was raised on a farm, and 
received a liberal common school education in his 
native place. He has always been an active, tho- 
rough-going business man, but has occupied most of 
his time in farming, in which he is still engaged. In 
1849, the Whigs of the town where he resides pre- 
sented his name to the people as a candidate for 
Supervisor, and he was successful by a flattering ma- 
jority. He was again elected in 1851 and '52, and, 
in all, held the office three years, discharging his 
duties with credit to himself and entire satisfaction 
to his constituents. In 1851 he was a candidate for 
the Assembly against Robert R. Steele, but was de- 
4 



38 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

feated, although polling an imusually large vote in 
the district. In the fall of 1857 he was brought for- 
ward as the Republican candidate for Senator from 
the Twenty-sixth district, against W. W. Wright, 
Democratic, and W. H. Lamport, the American can- 
didate, and was triumphant by a fair plurality over 
both his competitors. Thus far, he has proven 
himself a safe counselor and a good legislator, and 
although not so boisterous and talkative as some of 
his compeers, has pursued a straight-forward, con- 
sistent, quiet, and industrious course in the Senate, 
which has doubtless not failed to have the proper in- 
fluence upon the deliberations of that body. No one 
is probably more punctual in their attendance at the 
sittings of the Senate, and he has not been absent 
from his seat more than once or twice since the open- 
ing of the legislature. 

Senator Boardman was always a Whig, until that 
party lost its identity, when he became, and has 
always since been, a member of the Republican or- 
ganization. He makes no pretensions as a speaker, 
but when once thoroughly waked up on a subject, 
seldom finds it difficult to forcibly express his ideas, 
in a proper shape. In arriving at conclusions on any 
question, he advances cautiously and by a process of 
sound reasoning, and when his judgment is once 
formed, nothing less nor more will induce him to 
change it, than a similar process of ratiocination. 
He is frank and generous in character, and affable in 
manner, and has many personal and political friends 
wherever he is known. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 39 

In 1834 Senator Boardman was united in marriage 
to Miss A. C. Whiting, of Litchfield county, Conn. 
In person he is heavy, square, and stoutly built; has 
black hair, and heavy, black whiskers, slightly mixed 
with gray; a full, dark blue eye; and a round, healthy 
face. His general appearance indicates excellent 
health, and great powers of physical endurance. 



BENJAMIN BRANDRETH. 

Senator Brandreth, the celebrated pill manufacturer 
and vender, whose medicine has given h-im a world- 
wide reputation, is a nativeof Newtown, Derbyshire, 
Enghnd, and is forty-nine years of age. He is a 
grandson of the late celebrated Dr. William Brand- 
reth, whose reputation as a physician in England 
was for many years unequaled by any of his profes- 
sional compeers, and is a fair representative of His 
Majesty, John Bull. He possesses an excellent busi- 
ness education, and was for a long time engaged in 
the pill business, previous to his coming to the United 
States. He introduced his medicines into this country 
on the 18th of May, 1835, though they had been 
before the public in Europe for nearly a century be- 
fore. Some physicians in America have long regarded 
his pills as admirably calculated "to make sound men 
sick, and sick men kill;" but the rapid sale with 
which they have met in this and all other countries, 
and the immense amount of wealth resulting from 



40 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

their sale, are certainly strong evidence that they are 
an effectual remedy for 

"All maladies, 
Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms 
Of heart-sick agony-, all feverish kinds; 
Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs; 
Intestine stone and ulcers-, cholic pangs, 
■ Demoniac phrensy, moping melancholy, 
And moon-struck madness ; pining atrophy, 
Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence: 

Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums." 

* 

Senator Brandreth has never been much of a poli- 
tician, it being too wide of his regular profession — an 
occupation to which he has been schooled from his 
earliest childhood. He has not much faith in the 
professional politician, disdaining to become one, 
himself, and with the poet, believes that * 

" A politician, Proteus-like, must alter 
His face and hahit; and, like water, seem 
Of the same color that the vessel is 
That doth contain it, varying his form, 
With the chameleon, at each object's change," 

In 1849 the Democrats of the Seventh district 
presented him to the people as a candidate for the 
Senate, and succeeded in electing him by a compli- 
mentary majority. During the two succeeding years, 
which he spent in that body, he acquired considerable 
reputation as a shrewd and somewhat sagacious re- 
presentative, and at the expiration of his term of 
office, returned to a grateful constituency. He then 
remained a silent spectator in the political arena, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 41 

devoting his whole time to the manufacture and vend- 
ing of his celebrated " life preservers " until the fall 
of 1857, when his Democratic friends, in what is now 
the Eighth district, entered him again as a competitor 
for the seat which he now occupies in ^e Senate, and 
achieved his election by upwards of one thousand 
majority over a combination of Democrats and Ame- 
ricans. Thus far in the present session he has ac- 
quitted himself creditably, and no doubt satisfactorily 
to his constituency. 

In person Senator Brandreth is fine looking, and 
peculiarly attractive in his general appearance. He 
is about medium in height, with a well formed body; 
has light, auburn hair, with an occasional streak of 
silver running through it; a heavy, gray beard, neatly 
trimmed; a pleasing, light blue eye; a full, round 
face ; and an intelligent and benevolent countenance. 

" By medicines life may be prolonged, yet death 
Will seize the Doctor, too." 



EDWARD I. BURHANS. 

Senator Burhans was born on the 25th of March, 
1804, in the town of Roxbury, Delaware county, N. 
Y., one of the finest grazing sections of country in the 
state. He is the eldest son of John E. Burhans, a 
prominent and influential man, who emigrated from 
Ulster county to Delaware when it was first settled, 
and who resided there till his death in 1838. On his 



42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

father's side he is of Holland extraction, and on his 
mother's, French. In early life he had no educational 
advantages, having received all the schooling he has 
at the age of twelve years, but since then he has been 
a diligent stujjent, and by his own individual exertions 
has succeeded in acquiring a good, practical business 
education. In 1818 he was hired out to work for a 
neighbor, by his father, who received his wages until 
he had arrived at the age of twenty-one, when he em- 
barked in the mercantile business, as a partner with 
Col. Noah Dimmick, in the town of Middletown, and 
remained in business with him until 1828, when he 
engaged in the same trade with his brother, in Rox- 
bury. This partnership existed till 1836, when he 
went into the mercantile business on his own respon- 
sibility, and has been so engaged ever since. 

Senator Burhans has frequently been Supervisor in 
the town of Roxbury, where he still resides. He was 
elected a Justice of the Peace in 1829, and held the of- 
fice sixteen years. During this period he was also 
postmaster about thirteen years, and in 1844 was 
elected to the Assembly, where he was an influential 
member of the Standing Committee on Claims. In 
1845 he was appointed one of the Judges of the county 
of Delaware, by Gov. Wright, and held the office 
until the new constitution went into effect. In 1857 he 
was nominated with unusual unanimity as a candidate 
for Senator from the Fourteenth district, composed of 
the counties of Delaware, Schoharie and Schenectady, 
and although the district is generally closely contested, 
he was elected by about one thousand plurality. The 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 43 

nomination was entirely unsolicited by him, he pre- 
ferring to devote his whole time and attention to his 
own private affairs, but it was nevertheless success- 
fully urged upon him. He entered upon his new 
position as Senator at the opening of the present 
session, and if his past success in life can be taken as 
an indication of the manner in which he will discharge 
its duties, he will certainly do so with credit to him- 
self and entire satisfaction to his constituents. 

Senator Burhans has always been a Democrat, and 
cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson, when Old Hickory 
was first a candidate for President of the United States. 
He has never been a politician, preferring his own 
private occupation to the intrigue and turmoil of a 
political life, and has always been emphatically a busi- 
ness man. When he started in life his strong right 
arm was his only capital, but, by industry, frugality 
and hard labor, he has succeeded in the honest acqui- 
sition of a competency for the remainder of his days. 
He attends the Dutch Reformed church, and has never 
been illiberal in his contributions to religious bbjects. 
He was united in marriage in 1837, to Miss Mary 
More, who died in April last, and by whom he has 
two children. He seldom addresses the Senate, and 
being desirous of disposing of the legislative business 
of the state with as little talking as possible, would 
doubtless be highly gratified to see his compeers follow 
his example to a greater extent than they now do. 

" In peace, there's nothing so hecomes a man, 
As modest stillness and humility." 



44 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

JOHN P. DARLING. 

Senator Darling is a native of Berkshire county, 
Mass. He was born on the 25th of February, 1815. 
His father, Rufus Darling, emigrated to New York in 
1818, and settled in the town of Lenox, in Madison 
county. He was a practical farmer, and removed to 
Cattaraugus county in 1824, where he resided till 
1828, when he died at Black Rock, while absent from 
home, at the age of forty-seven. His wife, the mother 
of the subject of this sketch, is still living, and has 
attained the advanced age of seventy-one. Her family 
were from Wales, and her husband was of English 
descent. 

Senator Darling received all his education in an 
old log school-house, in Cattaraugus county, where 
his father lived. He advanced in arithmetic as far as 
the Single Rule of Three, and was taught to about the 
samg extent in some of the more ordinary English 
branches of a common school. At the age of thirteen, 
after his father's death, he remained at home with his 
mother, working out occasionally for himself, until he 
was about sixteen years old, w^hen he employed him- 
self on the Alleghany river as a raftsman. In the 
spring of 1831 he descended the river in this capacity, 
to the Ohio, and thence to Louisville, Ky. During 
the trip, which embraced a considerable period, he did 
all his own cooking, and had scarcely any thing more 
for a bed than, as he expresses it, *' the soft side of a 
plank." In the fall of 183 1 he went on to Grand Island, 
in the Niagara river, where he spent the greater por- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. -45 

tion of that winter in cutting cord wood, at a cer- 
tain sum per cord. In the spring of 1833 he hired 
himself out to work on a farm, in Otto, Cattaraugus 
county, where he remained a large proportion of the 
time, till 1834, when he became a clerk in a dry good 
store in the village of Waverly, in that town. Here 
he remaind about four years, when he went into the 
mercantile trade as a partner in the same place, and 
continued the copartnership until 1848, when he em- 
barked in the same business on his own responsibility. 
In 1851 he started a branch establishment at Cattarau- 
gus, on the New York and Erie Rail Road, and in 
1853 sold out at Waverly, and removed to Cattarau- 
gus, where he now resides, and where he followed the 
mercantile trade till 1856, when he finally disposed of 
his business altogether. 

In 1837 Senator Darling was appointed Inspector 
of Elections, and held the place for several years. In 
1838 he was elected Town Clerk of Otto, and held 
the office at different periods for several years. In 
1845 he was elected Supervisor of that town, which 
position he also held several years. He was subse- 
quently elected to the same office in the town where 
he now resides. In 1850 he was appointed Postmaster, 
under President Taylor, of the town of Otto, and 
held the office during his and Mr. Fillmore's ad- 
ministration. In 1851 he was elected Treasurer of 
Cattaraugus county, and held the office three years. 
In the fall of 1856 he was elected by a majority of 
eight thousand to the Senate, from the Thirty-second 
district, to fill the unexpired terra of Hon. Roderick 



46 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

White, who died in the spring of that year. He was 
again nominated by the Republican party in 1857, for 
the same position, and was elected to the seat which 
he now occupies by a majority of nearly four thousand. 

Senator Darling has always been a zealous politi- 
cian, and very early in life identified himself with 
the Free Soil Whigs. He has always been strongly- 
Free Soil in all his views and feelings, but never failed 
to act with the Whig party while it had an organiza- 
tion. Shortly after the American party came into 
existence, he warmly espoused its leading princi- 
ples, and continued to act with that party until Mr. 
Fillmore was nominated for the Presidency, when he 
abandoned the party, and subsequently took the stump 
in behalf of Col. Fremont. Since then he has been 
emphatically a Republican, strongly opposed to the 
further extension of slavery. He labored pretty tho- 
roughly throughout the Presidential contest of 1856, 
and undoubtedly contributed his full share of strength 
and influence to the Republican cause. 

Senator Darling was married in the fall of 1838, to 
Miss Abiah Strickland, by whom he has two child- 
ren — daughters. Her father, John Strickland, was a 
successful farmer, in Cattaraugus county, where he 
died, in 1847 at the age of fifty-six. 

The Senator is a tall, broad shouldered, fine look- 
ing man, with black hair and whiskers ; a rather thin, 
sallow countenance, sharp, black eyes, and is emphati- 
cally a gentleman, commanding the unqualified respect 
and esteem of all who know him. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 47 



ALEXANDER S. DIYEN. 

Senator Diven was born on the 10th of February, 
1810, about a mile west of the village of Watkins, in 
what was then Tioga, afterwards Chemung, and now 
Schuyler co., N. Y. Both his paternal and maternal an- 
cestors were Irish, and his grand-parents were both 
born in Ireland. His father and mother were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and his mother's parents were among the 
sufferers of the Wyoming valley. His father while 
apprenticed to a mechanic, in the city of Carlisle, en- 
listed in the Revolutionary struggle. He was among the 
Pennsylvania volunteers in the forlorn winter quarters, 
at Valley Forge, and joined Gen. Washington's army 
on the day of the battle of Princeton. He speedily 
rose to the rank of a Lieutenant, and received a Cap- 
tain's commission immediately after the close of the 
war. He was in command of a company detailed to 
suppress the famous liquor insurrection during Wash- 
ington's second administration, and subsequently set- 
tled on Duncan's Island, a delightful spot of about 
one thousand acres, situated in the Susquehanna, at 
the mouth of the Juniatta river. Here he lived until 
about the year 1790, when his title to the island having 
been pronounced invalid, he removed to Western New 
York, and purchased a farm on the west side of Sene- 
ca lake, where the subject of this sketch was born, 
and where he died, in 1842, at the advanced age of 
eighty* six. 

Senator Diven's education, until he was seventeen 
years old was only such as the common schools of his 



48 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

native town afforded at that early day. He did not 
attend school constantly, however, and was obliged to 
labor on his father's farm during the summer, in order 
that he might go to school during the winter. At the 
age of eighteen he left home, and spent a year at the 
Yates County academy, which was then first opened. 
"He shortly after entered the Ovid academy, where he 
was finally enabled to complete his education, by 
teaching in the summer, and keeping up with his class 
during the winter. In the spring of 1831 he entered 
the ofiice of H. Gray, at Elmira, as a student at law, 
still dividing his time between study and school teach- 
ing, in order to support himself, where he remained 
until 1833, when he entered the office of F. M. Haight, 
at Rochester. Here he remained about six months, 
when he went to Owego, Tioga county, to lake charge 
of the County Clerk's office, and remained there, de- 
voting all his spare time to his legal studies, until the 
spring of 1835, when he went to Angelica, Alleghany 
county, and formed a law partnership with George 
Miles, a lawyer of commanding ability and large prac- 
tice. Shortly after, in 1836, he was admitted to the 
bar of the Supreme Court of the state, and in 1838 
was appointed District Attorney of Alleghany county, 
which office he filled four years. About this time, his 
partner removed to Michigan, where he was after- 
wards Justice of the Supreme Court of that state. 
While residing at Angelica Mr. Diven's practice was 
large, and extended to many of the neighboring counties. 
He speedily acquired a commanding position as a law- 
yer in that section of the state, and for a period of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. * 49 

six years, there were few causes tried in Angelica Court 
House, in which he was not on one side, and Judge 
Grover, one of the best jury lawyers in the state, on 
the other. In 1846 he left Angelica, and settled on "Wil- 
low Brook farm," near the village of Elmira, where 
he still resides. In 1847, he formed a law partner- 
ship with Col. S. G. Hathaway and James L. Woods, 
under the firm of Diven, Hathaway & Woods, which 
still exists. 

Since 1844 Senator Diven has been considerably in- 
terrupted in the prosecution of his profession, by being 
enlisted in various rail-road enterprises. In that 
year he was solicited by the stockholders of the New 
York and Erie rail-road to become a director in that 
company, which was then insolvent, being indebted to 
the state in the sum of three millions, and to other 
creditors half a million of dollars; and so deeply were 
the south-western counties interested in the construc- 
tion of the road, that he consented to undertake, with 
a company of efficient men in New York city, the 
Herculean task of completing the road. Until this 
object was attained, much of his industry and energy 
were devoted to its accomplishment. At a later period 
he became President of the Williamsport and Elmira 
road during its construction, and contracted for the 
road connecting it with the Reading road, and thus, 
forming a direct line to Philadelphia. He was also* 
interested in the construction of the roads running 
north of Elmira; and is now engaged in the construc- 
tion of an important road in Missouri. 

Senator Diven cast bis first vote for Gen. Jackson,. 
5 



50 ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

at his first election. In the great contest of 1840 he 
took the stump with a good deal of zeal in behalf of 
the Democratic ticket; and in 1843 was the unsuc- 
cessful Democratic candidate in his district for the 
Assembly. He was not an active politician at this 
time, but always continued to vote with the Demo- 
cratic party, until it ^dopted the doctrine of Gen, 
Cass's celebrated Nicholson letter, when he abandoned 
the party. It is true, he was the unsuccessful Demo- 
cratic candidate for the Assembly in 1854, in his dis- 
trict, but he was only induced to allow his name to be 
used by his friends who desired his election, in order to 
secure some local improvements at the hands of the 
Legislature. After leaving the Democratic party he 
paid but little attention to politics, until the repeal 
of the Missouri compromise, which at once aroused 
him frona his political lethargy. He took a promi- 
nent and influential part in the campaign of 1856, in 
behalf of Col. Fremont, and canvassed all the counties 
in the south-western part of the state, and in the 
north-western part of Pennsylvania. He was nomi- 
nated for the seat now occupied by him in the Senate 
without his knowledge and against his consent, but 
was triumphant by a handsome majority. 

Senator Diven was married in 1835, to Miss 
Amanda Beers, of Elmira, by whom he has eight child- 
ren — four sons and four daughters. He is a member 
of the Presbyterian church, having been reared in 
that faith. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 61 



JOHN DOHERTY. 

Senator Doherty was born on the 16th of January, 
1826, on the corner of Jacob and Ferry streets, in the 
city of New York. He sprung from genuine Irish 
stock, and is the oldest of four brothers, all of whom 
are still living. His father, Patrick Doherty, emi. 
grated to New York from Ireland about the year 1811, 
and took an active part in the war of 1812. His 
occupation was that of a contractor, in which he was 
eminently successful, and he died in 1849, at the age 
of fifty-five. His wife, the mother of the subject of 
this sketch, is still living, and is about fifty years 
of age, although looking nearly as young as her son 
John. 

Senator Doherty was educated at a private select 
school in his native city, and pursued a classical 
course. Although, even then, 

" Forever foremost in the ranks of fun, 
The laughing herald of the harmless pun," 

he was not inattentive to his studies, and at the close 
of his academic career, was a good practical scholar. 
At the age of sixteen he entered the law ofi^ice of 
Messrs. Sandsfords & Porter, a well known firm in the 
city of New York, where he remained about six years, 
when he was admitted to the bar. Shortly after, he 
hung out his shingle, as one of the legal fraternity, on 
the corner of Broadway and Wall street, and followed 
the practice of his profession nearly two years, when 
his father's death occurring, he was obliged to aban- 



52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

don his office, to take charge of the affairs pertaining 
to his father's unsettled estate. About this time he 
was brought forward as the Democratic candidate, in 
his district, for the Assembly, but was defeated by a 
very small majority. In 1850 he was nominated for 
Assistant Alderman, and was again defeated, with 
nearly all the candidates on the Democratic ticket. 
In the following year he was nominated for Alderman 
from the Nineteenth ward, which was then strongly 
Whio-, and was elected. He served in the board of 
Aldermen two years, and was associated in that body 
with such men as Mayor Tieman. The canvass' 
which followed his nomination for this office was pro- 
T)ably the most exciting and warmly contested one 
that had ever taken place in the city of New York. 
He enlisted, however, in his cause with the will and 
Jthe determination to triumph, closely contesting every 
inch of political ground in controversy, and after a 
hard fought battle, came out of the struggle victori- 
ously. In the fall of 1857 he was nominated, against 
strong influences and some very worthy competitors, 
by the Democrats of the Seventh district, as a repre- 
sentative in the Senate, and was elected to the seat, 
now occupied by him in that body, by an overwhelm- 
ing vote. During this campaign he was also, actively 
engaged in the contest, and addressed his fellow citi- 
zens at every prominent point in the district. 

Senator Doherty has always been a staunch, un- 
wavering Democrat of the Hard shell stamp. He 
belongs to the Catholic church, and is still a single 
man. He is of medium stature in person; is some- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 53 

what inclined to corpulency, and squarely built ; has 
full, blue eyes, denoting large language; light hair, 
and a goatee a la French style; and a full face, with 
a droll, good natured countenance. He possesses 
more than ordinary natural ability, and by confining 
himself somewhat more closely to intellectual pursuits, 
could easily climb higher rounds in the ladder of dis- 
tinction. He is quite urbane and pleasant in his ad- 
dress, and graceful and dignified in his general deport- 
ment. He belongs to the class of good fellows, and 
is very popular among the great mass of his immediate 
constituents. He is always active and energetic in 
the deliberations of the Senate. He has a good voice, 
and is a pleasing speaker. He addresses the Senate 
frequently, but 

" He is so full of pleasing anecdote, 
So rich, so gay, so poignant in his wit, 
Time vanishes before him as he speaks." 



SMITH ELY, Jr. 

Senator Ely is about thirty years of age; is a 
bachelor; and, with the exception of Col. Pratt, is 
the youngest man in the Senate. He was born in 
Morris county, N. J., and his parents removed to the 
city of New York, when he was a few months old, 
since which time he has constantly resided in the dis- 
trict he now represents. He was educated as a law- 
yer ; but after spending four years in the study of the 
profession, was obliged to abandon it, in consequence 



54 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of impaired sight, induced by too close application. 
Quitting the legal fraternity he then embarked in the 
leather trade, in Ferry St., N. Y., where he was engaged 
until about a year since, when, his connection with 
his partner having expired by limitation, he withdrew 
from active business with an ample fortune. It is 
said, however, that he still retains some interest in 
the leather trade in New York, and is connected with 
some tanning establishments in this state and Penn- 
sylvania. 

Senator Ely has been quite prominent in the literary 
circles of New York during the past ten years, and 
has been proprietor of, or a regular contributor to, a 
number of the periodicals published in that city and 
Boston. He has never held, or been a candidate for 
office previous to the last campaign, except that of 
trustee of public schools, which he now holds. His 
course in the administration of the affairs of the 
schools, while designed to develop the practical ad- 
vantages of the system, has been characterized by the 
most rigid economy. In the school district under his 
supervision, which has an attendance of about seven 
thousand children, the average expense per scholar is 
less than one half the cost in other districts in the 
city, and forty per cent less than the general average 
of the whole city. 

Senator Ely has participated actively in politics 
only during the past year or two. He was selected 
as a member of the New York Democratic General 
committee for 1857, and took his seat in January of 
that year. Shortly after, as is well known by city 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 55 

politicians, a movement was made to change the 
organization of the party in the city, ostensibly to 
reform the system of primary elections. This move- 
ment resulted in the establishment of two General 
committees, each claiming to represent the city De- 
mocracy. He adhered to the organization of which 
Wilson Small was chairman, and in September last 
was elected a delegate to the State convention, at 
Syracuse, where a settlement was effected of the dif- 
ferences between the rival committees, he being ad- 
mitted as one of the joint delegates to the convention, 
in which he took an active part in the nomination of 
the Democratic State ticket that was elected in No- 
vember last, and which, it is generally conceded, has 
not been surpassed for respectability and competency 
by any ticket nominated by the Democratic party, for 
many years. 

Senator Ely represents the most populous district 
in the state — a district containing nearly two hundred 
thousand inhabitants. The late Senator, Joseph H. 
Petty, and Col. Pinckney, were his opposing candi- 
dates, but he was elected by an overwhelming major- 
ity, having received about three-fourths of all the 
votes cast. It is said that he received the vote of 
every man in the district with whom he was person- 
ally acquainted, which was certainly a high compli- 
ment in these days of party discipline and prejudice. 
He appears to be devoting himself in the Senate to 
matters pertaining to the immediate interests of his 
constituents, and to those benevolent institutions in 
the city of New York and the state, with which he 



56 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES* 

has been intimately associated, and with the merits 
of which he is perfectly familiar. 

Senator Ely is somewhat tall and slender in stature; 
has dark hair and eyes; nicely trimmed side whiskers; 
and a pale, intellectual face. He is kind and unassum- 
ing ia his manner; generous and hospitable; and is by 
no liieans recreant to the weighty responsibilities with 
which the people of the Fifth Senatorial district have 
entrusted him. 



JOHN J. FOOTE. 

Senator Foote was born in the town of Hamilton, 
Madison county, N. Y., on the 11th of February, 
1816. He is a son of John Foote, a prominent 
lawyer in the village of Hamilton, and a grandson of 
Judge Isaac Foote, of Chenango county, who died 
about fifteen years ago. On his father's side he is of 
English descent, and on his mother's, Scotch. He 
was educated at the Hamilton academy, and partially 
pursued a classical course. After finally leaving 
school, in 1836, he became a clerk in a store in his 
native place which belonged to his father, though he 
had previously spent considerable time in the estab- 
lishment, and, in fact, took the almost exclusive 
charge of it, when only about fourteen years of age. 
He occupied this position until 1838, when he em- 
barked in the mercantile trade for himself, and has 
been so engaged ever since, in his native town. He 
is one of the most prompt, active, straight-forward, 



• BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 57 

thorough-going, consistent and honest business men 
in all that section of the state, and has been emi- 
nently successful in all his business transactions. He 
has not been a speculator, venturing outside of his 
regular calling to engage in doubtful financial schemes 
or enterprises, but has pursued a steady, quiet and 
attentive course in his occupation as a merchant, until 
he has succeeded in the acquisition of an honest com- 
petency for life. 

At the age of twenty-four Senator Foote was 
elected Inspector of common schools in his native 
town. In 1839 he was appointed Adjutant of the 
65th Regiment of the militia of the state of New 
York, thenunder the command of Col. John At- 
wood, now of Albany, and occupied the position 
for some time, with considerable successas a mili- 
tary man. In 1853 he received the unanimous 
nomination of the Whigs of the Twenty-first dis- 
trict for a seat in the Senate, but peremptorily 
declined being a candidate. In 1854 he was elected 
Supervisor of the town of Hamilton, and again in 
1856, holding the post of chairman of the Board 
during both terms. In the fall of 1857 the Se- 
natorial convention of the Republican party in the 
Twenty-third district brought him forward as its 
candidate, and he was elected to the seat now filled 
by him in the Senate, by upwarcis of two thousand 
majority over the combined vote of the Democratic 
and American candidates. 

Senator Foote was formerly a Seward Whig, but 
when the Missouri Compromise was repealed he iden- 



58 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. . 

tified himself with the Republican movement. He 
was among the first to take an active part in the or- 
ganization of the Republican party in Madison county, 
and was a delegate to the first Anti-Nebraska. State 
convention, held at Saratoga in 1854. He was, alsb, 
a member of the convention subsequently held at Au- 
burn, where the Republican movement was inaugurat- 
ed, and in 1855 was a delegate to the Republican 
State convention at Syracuse. 

In 1840 Senator Foote was married to Miss Mary, 
daughter of Amos Crocker, a prominent merchant 
in the village of Hamilton, and a lady much admired 
for her excellency of character and general qualifica- 
tions. He has three children — one boy and two girls. 
He attends the Presbyterian church, but exemplifies 
the true Christian character more by his uprightness 
and integrity as a man, than a mere conformity to 
religious customs and formalities. He is a person of 
medium height; has brown silvered hair and brown 
whiskers; large grey eyes, and a prominent intellect- 
ual forehead. He seldom addresses the Senate, and 
is a practical working member. It can, indeed, 
safely be said that no man has been less ambitious 
of political preferment or more faithful in the dis- 
charge of his duties as a public officer, than Senator 
Foote. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ' 59 



JOHN B . H A L S T E D . 

Senator Halsted is the oldest man in the Senate. 
He was born on the 7th of November, 1798, in Pitts- 
ton, Luzerne county, Penn., in the valley of the 
Wyoming. He is of English and partially of Irish 
descent. His parents were both born in Orange 
county, N. Y., and his father was a soldier through- 
out the Revolutionary war. He emigrated to Penn- 
sylvania about the year 1795, and after living in that 
state until the year 1817, returned to New York and 
settled in what was then Ontario county. He was a 
farmer, and died about thirty-five years ago, at the 
age of sixty-three. His wife, the mother of John, 
died about the same time, and was about fifty- five 
years of age. 

Senator Halsted did not enjoy the advantage of a 
regular course of education. His father who re- 
mained poor in consequence of his having lost his 
health during his services in the Revolution, could 
render him no material assistance, and he was thrown 
almost exclusively upon his own resources at a com- 
paratively early age. After receiving the benefits af- 
forded by a common district school in those days, he 
took charge of a school himself, teaching during the 
winter, and working at the carpenter and joiner's 
trade during the summer, until he was about twenty- 
four years of age, when his health failing him, he 
turned his attention to the study of medicine. He 
devoted himself closely to his studies for some time, 



60 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

when, discovering that his health was still growing 
worse, he embarked in the mercantile business, in 
which he has been engaged ever since. About the 
year 1827 he removed across the Genesee river into 
Wyoming county, then Genesee county, where he has 
always since been a resident. He was married on the 
26th of October. 1832, to Miss Eunice Talcott, of 
Vernon, Tolland county, Conn., a daughter of Dea- 
con Phineas Talcott, of that place, and has never 
had any children. He was brought up a Baptist, but 
now attends the Presbyterian church. 

Senator Halsted was formerly a strong Seward 
Whig, and was actively engaged in the promotion of 
the principles of that party until it lost its organiza- 
tion, when he enlisted in the Republican ranks. With 
the exception of a few unimportant town offices he 
never held any public position until 1855, when he 
was presented to the people of the Thirtieth district, 
then composed of the counties of Allegany and Wyom- 
ing, as the Republican candidate for Senator, and was 
elected by about fourteen hundred majority. He was 
re-nominated for the Senate by the Republicans of the 
same district, in the fall of 1857, and was again suc- 
cessful by a majority of about thirty-six hundred. 
Shortly after taking his seat at the opening of the 
present session of the Legislature, he was elected 
President pro tern, of the Senate, and now acts as 
presiding officer of that body in the absence of the 
Lieutenant-Governor. Being the oldest member of 
the Senate, he presides with becoming dignity and 
impartiality. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 61 

In person Senator Halsted is somewhat above the 
medium height; has light gray hair; a peculiar brown 
eye; sharp features; a pale face, denoting general 
debility, and is of the nervous temperament. He has 
never been an inactive politician, and while cheer- 
fully conceding to others the undisputed right to think 
and act for themselves on all public and private ques- 
tions, is very decided and uncompromising in his 
political views, when once thoroughly formed. He is 
a fair speaker, but seldom participates, to any extent, 
in the discussions of the Senate. He is courteous 
and unassuming in his manner, and is deservedly 
popiilar wherever he is known. Doubtless the inte- 
rests of his constituents are perfectly safe in his 
■^ ha.nds. 



ALRICK HUBBELL. 

Senator Hubbell was born on the 4th of October, 
1801, in Utica, Oneida county, N. Y., where he has 
always resided. He is of Welsh descent. His father, 
Mathew Hubbell, emigrated to New York from Berk- 
shire county, Mass., in 1789, and settled in Oneida 
county, which was then a part of Herkimer county. 
He was in the Revolutionary w^ar, and was at the 
battle of Bennington, in 1777. He also took an active 
part in the war of 1812, during his services in which 
he contracted a severe cold, at Sackett's Harbor?, 
which finally, in 1819, terminated in his death. He 
6 



62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was a successful farmer, and died at the age of fifty- 
seven. 

After his father's death, Senator Hubbell remained 
at home with his mother, on the farm, until he was 
twenty-four years of age, going to school occasionally 
and attending to things about the premises. This 
was all the schooling he ever received, and on the 1st 
of January, 1826, he became Deputy-Sheriff of Oneida 
county, which office he held three years. During 
this period he also held the position, a year, of Police 
Constable of the then village of Utica. He was one 
of the committee of young men from the village of 
Utica, in 1855, to celebrate the opening of the Erie 
canal, and was on the first boat, with Gov. Clinton, 
that came through the canal and entered the Hudson 
river at Albany. In June, 1826, he was married to 
Miss Laura E. Squire, of Lanesboro, Berkshire county, 
Mass., by whom he has five children living, a young 
lady possessing all the good qualities for which the 
Lanesboro ladies were then so well known. With a 
capital of $1000, which was equal to that of his part- 
ner, Edward Curran, he went into the mercantile 
business in his native place, on the 1st of April, 1829, 
and remained so engaged until 1855, when he retired 
from business, having met with the most eminent 
success. 

Senator Hubbell was elected Colonel of the 211th 
regiment, in 1827, having advanced to this position 
through all the regular gradations of military disci- 
pline. He held the office until 1830, when he resign- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 63 

ed. In 1829 he became a Fireman in the village of 
Utica, and is still connected with the department as 
an active member. He was elected Chief Engineer 
of the department in 1836, and filled the position 
about ten years. In 1840 he was the successful Whig 
candidate for Alderman in a ward that was then 
strongly Democratic, and held the office two years. 
In the summer of 1856 he was a delegate to the Na- 
tional Republican convention at Philadelphia, and 
took an active part in the nomination of Col. Fremont 
for the Presidency. He was elected Mayor of the city 
of Utica in the same year, and w^as re-elected in the 
spring of 1857. Besides these he has held various 
other responsible positions, though not of a political 
character. 

Senator Hubbell began his political career as a 
warm friend of Gov. Clinton, and his first vote for 
Governor was cast for him for that office. He was 
one of the original Whigs, and always acted zealously 
with that party while it retained its organization. 
He was a very warm personal friend of Gen. Taylor, 
for whose election as President of the United States, 
he labored zealously throughout the contest of 1848, 
as president of the " Rough and Ready Club " of the 
city of Utica, and a ''high private" in the Whig 
ranks. The Whig party having ceased to exist, he 
joined the Republican party, where he has ever since 
remained. During the campaign of 1856, he was pre- 
sident of the "Fremont Club " at Utica, and in 1857 
was elected by a large Republican vote, to his present 
position in the Senate. 



64 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Senator Hubbell is a member of the Baptist church, 
and has been a trustee of that denomination for 
twenty-ei^ht years. He is active and influential in 
all the transactions of the church, and as regularly as 
sabbath rolls around, is present to instruct a Bible 
class which he has had under his immediate charge 
for many years. In person he is a large, healthy, 
vigorous man, being six feet in height, and weighing 
nearly two hundred pounds. He is perfectly straight; 
walks as erect as an Indian; has heavy, dark brown 
Jiair, somewhat mixed with gray; a smooth, full face; 
and dark brown eyes. He seldom speaks in the 
Senate, but is a heavy worker, never failing to fulfill 
all his duties as an honest legislator. 



GEOUGE Y. JOHNSON. 

Senator Johnson was born in 1820, in the town of 
Guilderland, Albany county, N. Y., where he has ever 
since resided. His paternal ancestors were English, 
and his mother's family came from Holland. His 
paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. 
His father, Dr. Jonathan Johnson, was born in Wor- 
cester county, Mass., and after graduating at the New 
York Medical College, and spending some time in his 
practice as a Physician at the New York Hospital and" 
in his native state, emigrated to the state of New 
York about forty years ago, and finally settled in 
Guilderland, where he is still a practicing physician. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 65 

His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, 
whose maiden name was Gertrude Waldron, is a native 
of the town where the family now reside, and they 
are both in the enjoyment of vigorous health. It 
is a remarkable fact that there are no other Johnsons 
in New York who are closely related to this family, 
although the name is by no means an uncommon one. 

Senator Johnson was sent to a district school in his 
native town, at an early age, where he remained, until 
he was about 16 years old, when he became a clerk in 
a dry goods store in that town. Here he remained in 
this capacity until he was nearly tv\^enty years of age, 
when, with a small capital, he entered into the mer- 
cantile trade for himself. He remained in this busi- 
ness about ten years, when he took his brother into 
his establishment as a partner, under the firm name 
of G. Y. & J. Johnson, which firm still continues to 
exist. About five years ago he purchased a farm in 
the town where he resides, and has since then been 
devoting some of his time and attention to the honest 
pursuit of the husbandman. Durisg all this period, 
however, he has been a faithful student, and besides 
Tamiliarizing himself with the study of medicine, has 
become well acquainted with the law, and in 1856 
was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of New 
York. He has, however, never practiced his profes- 
sion, and has always been a merchant and a farmer. 

Senator Johnson was elected Supervisor of the town 
of Guilderland in 1854, and was subsequently elected 
twice to the same position. During his second term 
in this office, he was chairman of the board of super- 



66 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

visors. On the 8th of October, 1857, the Americans 
of the Thirteenth district brought him forward as a 
candidate for Senator. On the 26th of the same month 
the Republican convention endorsed his nomination, 
and he was elected by a handsome majority to the 
seat he now fills in the Senate. He was formerly an 
uncompromising Whig, of the Henry Clay school, and 
always remained firm in his support of the principles 
of that party while it had an organization. He early 
enlisted under the American standard, and has always 
since been among the most active, zealous, and effi- 
cient members of that party. 

Senator Johnson is a man of medium height, rather 
heavy set, and will weigh about one hundred and sixty 
pounds. He has blue eyes, light brown hair and whis- 
kers; and is one of the only three bachelors in the 
the Senate, Senators Ely and Doherty being the other 
two. He is afi^able and courteous in his manner; is 
a fair speaker; a close debater; and by no means inat- 
tentive to his duties as a legislator. 



ADDISON H. L AFLIN. 

Senator Laflin was born in the town of Lee, Berk- 
shire county, Mas3., on the 24th of October, 1823. 
He is the eldest son of Walter Laflin, late of Lee, and 
now of Pittsfield, Mass. In 1839 he entered Williams 
college, and graduated with the second honors of his 
class, at the semi-centennial anniversary of the estab- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 67 

lishment of that institution, in 1843. While in col- 
lege, he unfortunately lost the use of his eyes, to such 
an extent, that he was unable to read for nearly a 
year, which induced him to abandon his intention of 
preparing himself for one of the learned professions. 
After leaving college he returned to his native town, 
and engaged in the mercantile business about a. year. 
In the spring of 1845 he removed to Hard wick, Wor- 
cester county, where he engaged in the manui'acture 
of fine writing paper. In the fall of 1847 circum- 
stances led him to Herkimer, Herkimer county, N. Y., 
where he purchased a building, and water po^wer 
connected therewith, for the manufacture of fine 
writing paper on an extensive scale. In the spring 
of 1849, in connection with his brother, he went to 
Herkimer to reside, and, establishing the firm of 
Laflin Brothers, commenced the manufacture of paper. 
This establishment proved to be an eminently success- 
ful one, and having acquired a good reputation, they 
were soon enabled to easily dispose of all their manu- 
factures. The mill operated by them was, and still 
is, by far the largest of the kind in the state, employ- 
ing about one hundred and thirty hands, and yielding 
annually a product valued at about $150,000. On the 
1st of August last, Mr. Laflin, in connection with his 
brother, sold his interest in this establishment to an 
incorporated company. 

Senator Laflin has always been a YJhig of radical 
tendencies, and continued warmly attached to the in- 
terests and principles of that party, until the nomi- 
nation of Gen. Scott, in 1852, and the abandonment by 



68 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

the party of what he regarded as its Free Soil pro- 
fessions. While continuing to act with this party, 
his political efforts had but one object, and that was 
the disruption of the two old political organizations, 
and the formation of a new organization, whose con- 
trolling principle should be, opposition to the ftirther 
extension of slavery. In 1855, for'the first time, act- 
ively and publicly, he took grounds in favor of the 
formation of a new political party, and was among the 
very first in the formation of such an organization in 
the county of Herkimer. 

In the fall of 1855 Senator Laflin received the Whig 
nomination for Senator of the Sixteenth district, then 
comprising the counties of Herkimer, Montgomery, 
Fulton and Hamilton, which nomination he immedi- 
ately and peremptorily declined in favor of Hon. F. P. 
Bellinger, whose antecedents had been Democratic, 
and who received the nomination for the same office 
from the Republican and Democratic conventions, 
which were held on the same day, and at the same 
place, as that which conferred the nomination upon 
Mr. Laflin. During all that fall he labored actively 
and earnestly for the success of the Republican ticket, 
and for the first time took the stump in behalf of the 
Republican candidates. The same zeal and earnest- 
ness which he exhibited in the campaign of 1855, was 
continued by him in the Presidential contest of 1856, 
during which he labored in season and out of season 
for the success of the party he had so warmly espoused. 

In the fall of 1857 an active canvass was made in 
the county of Herkimer, among the Republicans, for 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 69 

the Senatorial nomination for the Twentieth district, 
comprising the counties of Otsego and Herkimer, the 
principal candidates for which were the Hon. John 
H. Wooster, of Newport, and Mr. Laflin. Without 
creating any acrimonious feeling between the friends 
of the parties, the contest resulted in the choice of 
delegates favorable to the election of the latter. The 
Senatorial convention which met at Richfield, was 
composed of an equal number of delegates from each 
of the two counties constituting the district, and each 
delegation presented a candidate from their respective 
counties. Upon the question of locality alone, there- 
fore, the convention was equally divided, and so re- 
mained for nearly twenty-four hours, during all of 
which time the best of feeling prevailed. The volun- 
tary withdrawal, however, on the part of the candi- 
date from Otsego, led to the unanimous nomination 
of Mr. Laflin, upon the motion of a delegate from that 
county. The Democratic party, presuming upon the 
existence of a strong prejudice among the Democratic- 
Republicans, against one who had been formerly iden- 
tified with the Whig party, endeavored to take advant- 
age of the same, by nominating as their candidate for 
Senator from the same district, the Hon. Wm. C. 
Grain, a Free Soil Democrat, of prominent distinction. 
Mr. Grain had formerly rendered himself conspicuous 
in the advocacy of Free Soil radical Democracy, 
having once been a Democratic speaker of the As- 
sembly, one of the rejected Democratic delegates at 
Baltimore, in 1848, and in various ways thoroughly 
identified with the Free Soil Democracy. He had also 



70 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

been delegate to the National Democratic convention 
which nominated Franklin Pierce; had supported the 
.Kansas-Nebraska bill, and had been a delegate to the 
convention at Cincinnati, which nominated Mr. Bu- 
chanan. To assist, too, in the election of Mr. Grain, 
the American candidate for Senator in the same dis- 
trict, withdrew, and a cordial union was effected be- 
tween the Democrats and Americans upon the same 
candidate. An effort was also made to prejudice the 
election of Mr. Laflin, by the circulation of some 
speeches or resolutions which he was said to have 
favored in the days of the Maine Law excitement, in- 
tending thereby to prejudice the hop-growing interest 
of Otsego county against him; but notwithstanding 
this effort and combination, he led his ticket in both 
Otsego and Herkimer counties, and was elected by a 
majority of over eight hundred. 

Senator Laflin was married in 1854, to Miss Helen 
M. Hall, daughter of the Hon. Johnson Hall, of Syra- 
cuse. He attends the Reformed Dutch church, and 
although not a member of that denomination, nev^er 
fails to contribute a generous support to religious ob- 
jects. He is a fine speaker, and always attracts the 
close attention of his hearers when he addresses the 
Senate. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 71 



RALPH A. LOVE LAND. 

Senator Loveland was born on the borders of Lake 
Champlain, in 1819, in the town of Westford, Essex 
county, N. Y. In early life he was engaged, during 
the season of navigation, with his father in the trans- 
portation business, going to school during the winter, 
until he was twenty-one years of age. These were 
all the educational advantages he then enjoyed, and 
even these were not very well improved, his mind 
having been too much occupied with his customary 
business duties to permit him to devote much time to 
study. When he had attained his majority he com- 
menced business for himself, without any capital ; but 
with a full and uncompromising determination to live 
to some good and praiseworthy purpose while he did 
live. He began upon a small scale, making scarcely 
more than a comfortable living, during the first few 
years; but his business gradually increased, until he 
dealt very extensively in all the staple productions 
consumed upon the borders of Champlain. He was 
very attentive to his business, always acting upon 
the old Ben. Franklin principle, " that if you don't 
keep the shop it won't keep you," and was eminently 
successful in all his business transactions. Notwith- 
standing his success he finally disposed of his business. 
This was in 1853, when he again went into active 
employment by manufacturing pig iron, in which he 
was also decidedly successful. He then sold out again 
in 1856, since which time he has not, been engaged 



72 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in any regular employment. He has also been pretty 
extensively engaged in Western land speculation since 
1847, and in this, too, has been very successful. 

Senator Loveland was elected Supervisor of the 
town in which he now resides, in 1850, and has since 
been twice re-elected to the same position. In the 
fall of 1856 he was elected to the Assembly by a ma- 
jority of about eight hundred over both the American 
and Democratic candidates, and, as a member of the 
standing Committee on Canals, was an active, influ- 
ential and consistent member of that body. In the 
fall of 1857 he was again nominated by acclamation 
for the Assembly, but declined, and was subsequently 
nominated and elected to fill the seat which he now 
occupies in the Senate, as the representative of the 
Sixteenth Senatorial district. He has never been 
seriously afflicted with an ambition for political 
honors or emoluments, but it has become proverbial 
in the section of the state where he resides, that his 
nomination for an office is invariably the sure har- 
binger of his election. 

Senator Loveland was formerly a Whig, a devoted 
admirer of Henry Clay, and is a strong, uncompro- 
mising partisan. He was a delegate to the first Anti- 
Nebraska State convention ever held in the state, 
which was at Saratoga in the fall of 1854, and early 
identified himself with the Republican movement, 
always believing the repeal of the Missouri Compro- 
mise a gross and unmitigated outrage upon the whole 
country. Since then he has always occupied a bold 
and unflinching stand in opposition to the further 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 73 

extension of slavery, and has been a zealous, consistent, 
and disinterested advocate of all the other great doc- 
trines of the Republican party. He was triumphantly 
elected to his place in the Senate upon this issue, 
and is fully determined to stand by it until his poli- 
tical career shall have ended. 

Senator Loveland was married in 1840, to Miss 
Harriet M. Kent, a grand daughter of the late Rev. 
Dan Kent, of Benson, Vt., and a young lady well 
kfiown for her hospitality, sociability, and general 
intelligence. He is a man of medium height; has 
black hair and heavy, black whiskers; a sharp, 
piercing, hazel eye, which is peculiarly attractive, and 
strongly indicative of more than ordinary intellectual 
power. He is a member of the Baptist church, and 
is deservedly popular wherever he is known. He 
seldom speaks in the Senate, but never fails to 
"Act well his part, there all the honor lies." 



WM. a. MANDEYILLE. 

Senator Mandeville is a native of the town of Kin- 
derhook, Columbia county, N. Y. (the home of that 
veteran war horse of Democracy, Martin VanBuren),. 
where he was born on the 16th of August, 1807. He 
is descended from Dutch and French parentage, and 
his father, Jeremiah Mandeville, who died in 1842, 
at the age of seventy-one, was quite a successful 
farmer in that part of the Empire State. His mother 
7 



74 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

i3 still living, and has attained the ripe old age of 
eighty-two. 

Senator Mandeville's educational advantages were 
entirely confined to a common school, and at the age 
of sixteen he was apprenticed to the carriage making 
business. Having learnt his trade, he " set up shop'* 
for himself, in the town of Stockport, formerly a part 
of the town of Kinderhook, where he followed his oc- 
cupation until 1836, when he purchased a farm and 
turned husbandman. He then followed the plow unftl 
1841, when he sold his farm, and purchasing an ex- 
tensive milling interest at Stuyvesant Falls, in his 
native county, where he now resides, engaged in the 
manufacture of flour, paper, &c., until 1852. About 
this time he established a large paper-mill in the town 
of Livingston, Columbia county, which he operated 
until 1856, when he sold it; since which time he has 
been partially retired from business. 

Senator Mandeville began his official political career 
about the year 1836, when he was elected Justice of 
the Peace in the town of Stockport, which office he 
held four years. In 1840 he received the unanimous 
nomination of the Democrats of his county for the 
Assembly, and was elected by a handsome majority. 
During the session of the Legislature which followed, 
he was placed on no very important committees, the 
Whigs having then a majority in the House; but 
he pursued a straight- forward, honest, and consistent 
course, which did not fail, in many instances, to ex- 
tort the approbation of even his political opponents. 
In 1849 he was again nominated by the " Soft " section 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 76 

of his party for the Assembly, but declined in favor 
of the nominee of the " Hards," John H. Overhisen, 
who was elected. In 1850 he was again brought 
forward as the Democratic candidate, but owing 
to a division in the party, was defeated by Phele- 
tus W. Bishop. After this he declined all political 
nominations, until the fall of 1857, when he was 
unanimously nominated for the seat he now occu- 
pies in the Senate. During his entire political career, 
however, he has occupied a prominent position as a 
military man, having arisen from the position of Cornet 
in the cavalry department, through all the military 
gradations, to that of General, his commission for 
which he still holds as a supernumerary. In politics 
he is an old fashioned Democrat, of the Jackson school, 
having cast his first vote for Old Hickory, at his first 
election to the Presidency in 1828. He supported the 
nomination of Mr. Van Buren, in 1848, believing that 
inasmuch as Congress, whether rightfully or wrongly, 
had always exercised authority over the territories, 
she ought still to do so, but he never did consider the 
subpct of slavery a proper test of Democratic faith. 
He looked upon the division in the Democratic ranks 
in 1853, as more the result of personal prejudice 
and feeling than real political sentiment, and con- 
curred with the Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson in the 
doctrine expressed in his speech at Rome, in 1849, 
that he would, as a Senator of the United States, have 
voted for the Wilmot Proviso, with or without in- 
structions. Since that period, however, he has al. 
ways stood by the nominations of his party, having 



76 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

supported the Compromise of 1850, and voted and 
labored for the election of Pierce and Buchanan. He 
he has always been one of the most zealous and active 
politicians in Columbia county, and since a voter, has 
never been absent from a single election. In politics, 
as in every thing else, he is an independent, straight- 
forward man, who has a will and a way of his own, 
and is always willing to allow others the same free- 
dom he assumes for himself. He is an unflinching 
Democrat, thoroughl}'' steeped in the doctrines which 
that party advocates, but neither expects his party to 
cough when he takes cold, nor to acquiesce in silent 
submission to every proposition that he makes. 

In 1839 Senator Mandeville was married to Miss 
Elizabeth White, of his native place, by whom he has 
six children. In person he is rather below the me- 
dium height; has dark hair, well mixed with gray; a 
long, gray beard, and a small light eye, with a frank 
(Countenance and a good face. His head is well formed 
and partially bald. He is a frequent and cogent de- 
bator, and is practical in all his views of legislation. 



JOHN C. MATHER. 

Senator Mather is the only surviving son of the 
late Dr. Thaddeus Mather, of Binghamton, and a 
lineal descendant of the celebrated Cotton Mather, 
the famous New England divine, so prominent in 
colonial history. He was born in Deposit, Delaware 
county, N. Y., and is about forty years of age. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 77 

is a brother of Gen. Calvin E. Mather, of New York 
city, who died about four years since, and who is 
well remembered as a distinguished lawyer and a 
brilliant orator. Within the past few years he has 
been called upon to mourn the loss of his father, 
mother, and two brothers. He received only a- 
liberal education, and at the age of twenty-two re- 
moved to Troy, where he engaged in the mercantile 
trade. 

Senator Mather has always been a strong National 
Democrat, and early in life entered prominently into 
the political discussions of the day. Possessed of 
winning manners and unusual firmness of purpose, he 
soon won the confidence of the people, and was twice 
chosen a member of the Common Council of the city 
of Troy from a district largely Opposition, and at a 
time when no other Democrat on the same ticket 
succeeded. He was appointed Loan Commissioner by 
Gov. Bouck, and was re-appointed by Gov. Wright. 
In 1846 he was a member of the Democratic State 
convention, and took a prominent and active part in 
its deliberations. In the fall of 1847 he was nomi- 
nated as a candidate for Canal Commissioner, but 
owing to a division in the convention which nominat- 
ed him, and which is memorable in the political an- 
nals of the state, he was defeated. The firebrand of 
the Wilmot Proviso had been cast into the Democratic 
camp, and a serious struggle for the ascendency re- 
sulted in the triumph of the Hunker or Anti-Proviso 
branch of the party. The Proviso resolutions were 
laid upon the table, and a ticket composed exclusively 



78 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of their opponents being nominated, his nomination 
for Canal Commissioner was made on the first ballot. 
The Minority or Barnburner section then repudiated 
the action of the convention, and generally abstained 
from the polls at the election, which defeated the en- 
tire Democratic ticket, and threw the state into the 
hands of the Whigs. 

During the schism in the Democratic party in 1848 
and '49, Senator Mather adhered with unflinching en- 
ergy and tenacity to the National or Cass section. For 
this stand in behalf of the nationality of his party his 
political friends determined to present his name again 
to the people of the state, which they did in 1850, 
when he was a second time nominated for Canal Com- 
missioner by an emphatic majority of the State con- 
vention. Gov. Seymour and himself being the Hunker 
representatives on the ticket, and Sanford E. Church, 
our present Comptroller, Hon. William G. Angel, 
and Nathaniel S. Benton, our present Canal Auditor, 
being contributed from the Barnburner wing. Messrs. 
Seymour and Mather were subsequently endorsed by 
what was called the " Union Party " in the city of 
New York, which was composed of a large body 
of conservative Democrats and Whigs who were op- 
posed to Northern sectionalism. The election resulted 
in the defeat of Gov. Seymour, by a small majority, 
while Messrs. Church, Angel, Benton and Mather 
were successful for State offices. 

The " Nine million law of 1851," proposing to raise 
money for the completion of the canals, was generally 
held to be unconstitutional by the Democratic party, 



BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 79 

but while concurring in this view of the question, 
Senator Mather, in common with other Democratic 
State officers, considered it a duty to obey the law 
until its constitutionality was passed upon by the 
proper courts. As a member of the Canal Board in 
December, 1851, he resisted and aided materially in 
defeating a proposed award under this law, embracing 
terms which he believed unjust and detrimental to the 
public interest, and although dissatisfied with most of 
its details, he concurred in the scheme eventually 
adopted, as the best that could be obtained. Under 
the plan thus adopted a saving of several hundred 
thousand dollars was insured to the state, and the 
subsequent adverse decision of the Court of Appeals 
finally annulled the law. 

As the time for holding the Democratic State con- 
vention in 1852 drew nigh. Senator Mather's name 
was proposed in many quarters for the office of Gov- 
ernor. Delegations from the counties of Albany and 
Rensselaer .were elected favorable to him, but learning 
this, he sent a communication to the convention, re- 
questing that his name should not be used in that 
connection, half his term as Canal Commissioner 
being yet unexpired. 

During the session of the legislature of 1853 the 
divisions in the Democratic party in New York again 
broke out into open rupture, and it was at this ses- 
sion that Senator Mather's famous impeachment case 
was brought to trial. 

As political parties were then constituted, three 
fourths of the members of the Court for the Trial 



80 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of Impeachments were politically opposed to him, 
but he was successfully vindicated from every charge 
by the result of the investigation. The resolutions 
of impeachment were brought into the Assembly only 
a few hours before the close of the legislative session, 
but being informed of the report, he instantly for- 
warded to that body a communication, couched in 
terms at once bold and dignified, complaining of want 
of notice of the proceedings, and demanding the hear- 
ing which had not been accorded to him by the com- 
mittee. The session closed, but the Governor imme- 
diately re-convoked the legislature, and the proceedings 
were continued. The Assembly then passed a resolu- 
tion giving him the opportunity which he had demand- 
ed to repl}^ to the charges, and this reply he was not 
long in furnishing. He sent it in to that body on the 
30th of May, and it was generally conceded to be one 
of the ablest and most unanswerable documents ever 
presented to a legislative body. An effort made to 
return it to him received only sixteen votes, and fifty 
thousand copies were immediately ordered by the 
Assembly to be printed. It can not be doubted that 
it convinced that body and the public of his entire 
innocence of the charges brought against him, and 
doubtless the whole subject would have been dis* 
missed after the receipt of his communication, had 
not he and his friends demanded the form of a trial. 
The trial lasted several weeks, and its result was 
received with great acclamation from one end of the 
state to the other. 

Senator Mather has now been a resident of the citv 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ' 81 

of New York for some years. In the fall of 1857 he 
was nominated by the Democratic convention of the 
Fourth Senatorial district for the position which he 
now holds, and was successful by a majority of nine 
thousand votes over both the opposing candidates — • 
the largest majority ever given for a Senator in. any 
district in the state. He is apparently a modest and 
unassuming man, even in his intercourse with his 
brother Senators, and can boast of troops of personal 
and political friends. 



JAMES NOXON. 

Senator Noxon was born in March, 1818, in the 
town of Onondaga, Onondaga county, N. Y. His pa- 
ternal ancestors came from Scotland, and his mother's 
family were Dutch. He is a grandson of Dr. Noxon, 
of Poughkeepsie, one of the most distinguished phy- 
sicians of his day, who died about twenty years ago. 
B. Davis Noxon, his father, is a native of Dutchess 
county, N. Y., and removed into Onondaga county 
forty-nine years ago. He has been an active practi- 
tioner at the bar ever since, and, although now seven- 
ty years of age, still retains a clear, active, vigorous 
mind. His reputation, as a lawyer, has become na- 
tional, and he occupies an eminent position in the 
front rank of his profession in the Empire State. His 
wife is also still living, and is now upwards of sixty- 
five years of age. 

At a comparatively early age, Senator Noxon be- 



82 ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

came a pupil of S. B. Wool worth, now Secretary of 
the Board of Regents of the University, at Homer 
academy, in Cortland county, where he was prepared 
for college. He then became a student in Hamilton 
college, where he passed his Freshman year, and 
spent the three subsequent years at Union college, 
graduating at that institution in 1838. Having com- 
pleted his education he commenced the study of the 
law, in the office of Noxon (his father), Leavenworth 
& Comstock, in the city of Syracuse, where he re- 
mained until 1840, when he entered the law depart- 
ment at Yale college. Here he remained about six 
months, under the instruction of Judge David Daggett 
and Prof. Hitchcock, both of whom are now dead, 
when he returned to his father's office, where he con- 
tinued his studies until May, 1841. He was then 
admitted to the bar in the city of New York, and in 
the succeeding June, commenced practicing in Syra- 
cuse, as one of the firm of Noxon, Leavenworth & 
Comstock, his father retiring from the practice. This 
partnerhsip continued until 1848, when Judge Com- 
stock was appointed Solicitor to the United States 
Treasury, at Washington, leaving the firm as Noxon 
& Leavenworth. Thus it remained until 1850, when 
Mr. Leavenworth retired from practice, and left Mr. 
Noxon in the sole possession of the office and its busi- 
ness. Shortly after, his younger brother, B. D. Noxon, 
Jr., became his partner, and the co-partnership thus 
formed still exists, and is engaged in an extensive 
and lucrative practice. 
Senator Noxon was always a consistent and straight- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 83 

forward Whig, until that party ceased to exist, when 
he enlisted in the Republican ranks, where he has 
always since been found zealously engaged in the pro- 
motion of the distinctive doctrines of that organiza- 
tion. He never held any office at the hands of the 
people until 1855, when the Republicans of the Twenty- 
second district presented him to the people as a candi- 
date for the Senate, and when he was elected by a most 
flattering vote. During the two years that followed, 
he was an active and influential member of that body, 
as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and was 
especially prominent in the controversy which arose in 
regard to the construction of a bridge across the Hud- 
son river, at Albany, and the disposition of the pro- 
perty of Trinity church. In the former case he was 
favorable to the construction of the bridge, and the 
bill authorizing its construction became a law; in the 
latter he advocated the proposition to divide the pro- 
perty of Trinity among her branches, and carried it 
through the Senate. In 1857 he was re-nominated 
for the Senate, and was again successful, lacking only 
a few votes of having a majority over the combined 
Democratic and American vote in the district. 

Senator Noxon was married in 1842 to Miss Eliza- 
beth Cadwell, of Syracuse, by whom he has four child- 
ren, and regularly attends the Dutch Reformed church. 
In person he is somewhat below the medium stature, 
has light hair and beard; large, blue eyes; rather 
pale complexion, and a thoughtful countenance. He 
is sociable, frank and open hearted; and has multi- 
tudes of personal and political friends. He is a sound 



84 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

lawyer ; and a fluent, eloquent debator. He speaks 
rapidly, with appropriate gesticulation and animation, 
and has a clear, loud voice that occasionally makes 
the Senate chamber ring. He is a good, practical 
legislator, and will doubtless not fail to do his duty 
to the interests of his immediate constituents and the 
commonwealth at large. 



JOHN E. PATTERSON. 

Senator Patterson is one of the oldest and most 
venerable looking men in the Senate. He is a native 
of the town of Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., where he 
was born in March, 1800. His maternal ancestors 
were English, and his paternal, Scotch. His grand- 
father, Brig. -Gen. John Patterson, was a valiant sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary war, and took the command 
of West Point after the capture of Andre, which he 
held till the close of the war. He was afterwards a 
Representative in the Eighth Congress, from what was 
then the Sixteenth district, in New York, and sat in 
the Constitutional convention of 1804, where he was 
an industrious and influential member. He was also 
subsequently a member of the state Senate for several 
years, and, at that time, was one of the most promi- 
nent men in the state. Mr. Patterson's father, Josiah 
L. Patterson, was a farmer and a native of Connecti- 
cut, from whence he removed to Massachusetts. Here 
he lived until about the year 1791, when he emigrated 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 85 

to New York, and settled in Broome county, where 
he remained until 1813, when he removed to Monroe 
county. He died about thirteen years ago, at the age 
of eighty-four, and his wife, the mother of the hero of 
this sketch, and a daughter of Gen. Hyde, of Broome 
county, formerly of Massachusetts, died about the 
year 1838, at the age of seventy. 

Senator Patterson was brought up on a farm, and 
received only an ordinary common school education. 
He remained at home with his father on the farm un- 
til he was twenty-seven years of age, when he was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Shelden, who died shortly 
after, and removed to Parma Centre, Monroe county, 
where he has always since resided. On going to this 
place he embarked in the mercantile trade, in which 
he engaged about three years, when he turned his at- 
tention to farming, and has always since been, more 
or less, so occupied. In 1831 he was elected Justice 
of the Peace of the town in which he resides, and with 
the exception of a very few months, has held the office 
ever since. In 1834 he was elected Supervisor, and 
again in 1835, '36, '37, '51 and '53, holding the position 
during a period of six years. He was appointed one 
of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in 1844, 
and occupied a place on the bench till the court was 
abolished by the Constitution, in 1846. On his leaving 
this position, he was admitted to practice in the County 
Court, and in 1851 was admitted to the bar of the Su- 
preme Court. Since then he has been a practicing 
lawyer. In 1855 he was brought forward by the Re- 
publicans, of what was then the Twenty-seventh dis- 
8 



86 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

trict, as a candicate for the Senate, and was elected. 
He was re-nominated in the fall of 1857, in what is 
now the Twenty-eighth district, and was again suc- 
cessful by a handsome plurality. 

Senator Patterson was formerly a Free Soil Demo- 
crat, and supported Mr. Van Buren for the Presidency 
in 1848. He always voted a straight ticket, till 1854, 
when he split in favor of Myron H. Olark, as the 
Temperance candidate for Governor. Upon the re- 
peal of the Missouri Compromise, in the same year, 
he enlisted in the Republican movement, and has been 
a zealous member of that party ever since. He is an 
upright and respectable man, and a sound, honest le- 
gislator. In person he is tall, slender and well pro- 
portioned; has snow white hair; blue eyes, and a 
dignified, intelligent countenance. He never married 
the second time, and chiefly attends the Presbyterian 
church. 



GEORGE W. PRATT. 

Senator Pratt is the youngest member of the Senate. 
He was born, in 1830, in Prattsville, Greene county, 
N. Y. ; a pleasant village reared among the Catskill 
mountains, by his energetic and respected father, 
the Hon. Zadock Pratt, late member of Congress, 
He is descended from that noble band of pilgrims who 
first broke ground on the shores of New England, one 
of whom, Lieut. William Pratt, of Norfolk in England, 
settled at Hartford, Conn., in 1636. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 87 

The subject of this sketch received a thorough and 
careful education, physically assisted by extended 
journeys on the western frontiers of the country, until 
1848, when he went to Europe and completed his edu- 
cation in a German university, receiving a degree of 
Doctor in Philosophy. Subsequently he traveled ex- 
tensively in Egypt, the Holy Land, Turkey, and Russia, 
and finally returned to the United States in 1851. In 
1855 he was married to Miss Anna, daughter of 
Benjamin Tibbits, of Albany, and now resides at Kings- 
ton, Ulster county, in which county he is largely 
engaged in the manufacture of leather. He is also 
engaged in the same business in the city of New 
York. 

Senator Pratt has devoted no inconsiderable atten- 
tion to the study of literatiiire, and the common school 
system of New York, and is now a member of various 
distinguished literary societies in this and foreign 
countries. He has a library of nearly eight thousand 
volumes, including some of the most ancient and valu- 
able works and manuscripts to be found in the world. 
His collection in Oriental languages or relating to 
Oriental subjects is especially interesting and attract- 
ive. This department contains about three thousand 
volumes, and among other rare and singular speci- 
mens of ancient literature, contains the curious Geo- 
graphical work entitled Jehan Numah, by Haji Khalfa, 
printed at Constantinople, in 1732. The Kuran, 
printed in folio at St. Petersburgh, in 1787, under the 
patronage and at the expense of the Empress Catha- 
rine is also in the collection. This copy which bears 



88 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

no date once belonged to the celebrated French Ori- 
entalist, Langles, to whom the world is indebted for 
the preservation of the Oriental manuscripts in the 
royal library at Paris. There is also in this Depart- 
ment the Turkish translation of the famous Arabic 
Dictionary — El Ramus, or the Ocean — by Firouzabodi, 
in three folio volumes; a number of Arabic and Per- 
sian Lexicons, some of which were published as early 
as 1653; Ludolphi's Journey to the Holy Land, a 
beautiful specimen of early printing in Gothic charac- 
(ters; Lord Valentia's Travels; many of the works of 
Norden, Niebuhr, Le Brun, Sandys, Sir John Mande- 
ville, and Van Linschoten; also Forbes's Oriental 
Memoirs ; Prisse's Oriental Album ; and the portraits 
of the Ottoman Sultans, by John Young. Among the 
Persian works there is likewise an edition of the 
"Arabian Nights," in the original language, printed at 
Calcutta, in four volumes, besides many works in the 
Tartar languages. 

The library contains a large number of ancient and 
modern Bibles; numerous interesting ancient classical 
works; some of the best editions of the Italian poets; 
many Spanish works, some of which were published 
in 1514; a fair collection of Polyglots, among which 
are the Biblia Sacra Polyglotta of Cardinal Ximenes 
and that of Walton. It, also, contains the opera- 
tions at the Pyramids of Gizeh, by Col. Vyse, an 
English gentleman, who spent vast sums upon the 
explorations of the pyramids of Lower Egypt, the 
results of which are here detailed, and a superb copy 
in ten folio volumes of text and twelve elephant folio 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 80 

volumes of plates of the Description de PEgypte, 
handsomely bound and probably one of the most desir- 
able copies of the work in any private collection in 
this country. 

Senator Pratt received an appointment as Quarter- 
Master General, under the administration of Gov. Sey- 
mour in 1853, and now holds the office of Colonel in the 
20th regiment, familiarly known as the Ulster Guard. 
Like his father he is a Democrat, and has never fal- 
tered in his devotion to the principles of that party. 
He has never aimed to be a politician, and his election 
to the Senate may be said to be his first entrance into 
the political field. He was nominated by the Demo- 
crats of the Tenth district with great unanimity for 
this position, and was triumphant by a majority of 
fifteen hundred, over the American and Republican 
candidate, ^notwithstanding the district gave about 
four thousand against the Democrats in the great 
contest of 1856. 

In person Senator Pratt is above the medium height, 
being tall and slender; has a fine coat of light brown 
hair, blue eyes, stylish side whiskers, and a fine heavy 
moustache. He seldom addresses the Senate at any 
considerable length, but is active and faithful in the 
discharge of his duties as a legislator. 



90 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



RICHARD SC HELL. 

Senator Schell is a native of Dutchess county, 
N. Y., and is forty-seven years of age. He is of 
German descent, and his ancestors were among the 
earliest German settlers who came into Dutchess 
and Columbia counties. He is the eldest of four bro- 
thers, of whom Augustus Schell, the present Collector 
of the port of New York, is the second. He received 
a liberal education, and when comparatively young, 
removed to the city of New York, where he em- 
barked in the business of a broker, in which he is 
still engaged, on Wall street. He has, probably, been 
the most fearless and venturesome financial man in 
the country, and has alternately made and lost more 
money than any other man engaged in a similar busi- 
ness, in the city of New York. Although firm, de- 
cided, and uncompromising in his political views, he 
has never been a professional politician, preferring to 
devote the largest share of his time and attention to 
his own private affairs, and has contented himself 
with being a silent-working and liberal member of 
his party. He was brought forward by the Demo-, 
crats of his district with entire unanimity for the 
Senate in the fall of 1857, and was elected to the seat 
he now occupies in that body, by a majority over the 
combined forces of the American and Republican 
parties. The district from which he has been elected 
includes all that part of the city in which Fifth ave- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 91 

nue is situated, and he represents more wealth than 
any other member of either branch of the legislature. 

In the Senate Mr. Schell discharges his duties 
with credit to himself, and the most perfect fidelity 
to his constituents. He never indulges in speech- 
making, believing that the legislation of the state can 
be properly disposed of with a great deal less talking, 
but pursues a quiet, straight-forward, industrious and 
consistent course, which commands the unqualified 
approbation of his legislative associates and the peo- 
ple. He is a man of sound judgment, with a strong, 
discriminating mind, and never, regardless of conse- 
quences to himself or friends, gives the least counte- 
nance to any thing, in the shape of legislation, whieh 
does not harmonize or tend to the promotion of the 
best interests of the people. He has always been a 
Democrat and a devoted partisan, and is eminently 
national in all his political views and feelings, never 
refusing, as all men should do, to sacrifice, if need 
be, every local interest upon the altar of the Consti- 
tution and the Union. 

In person he is about the medium iieight; is well 
formed, and somewhat inclined to corpulency, with 
black hair and eyes, and a full, dignified face. He 
possesses fine, social qualities, and in both public 
and private life enjoys a high degree of personal 
popularity. 



92 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



GEORGE G. SCOTT. 

Senator Scott was born in Ballston, Saratoga co., 
N. Y., in 1811, and has always been a resident of 
that place. He is the only child of James Scott, who 
was also, a native of Ballston, having been born only 
a short time after his father emigrated to that place, 
in 1773, from the north of Ireland. His father, who 
died about a year ago, was eighty-three years of age, 
and at the time of his death was one of the oldest 
residents in that section of the state. His grandfather 
was subject to all the hardships and privations of 
that early period, and on one occasion barely escaped 
loosing his scalp, the Indians having successfully 
attacked his house, and rifled it of all that was valu- 
able. For two or three years this residence was a 
frontier clearing, and was farther north than any 
other dwelling south of the valley of the St. Law- 
rence. 

Senator Scott remained at home with his father 
until 1828, when he entered Union college, at Sche- 
nectady, as a Sophomore, and graduated, in 1831, 
with one of the first honors of his class. Having 
completed his college course, he immediately entered 
the law office of Messrs. Palmer & Goodrich, at Ball- 
ston, where he remained about two years, and subse- 
quently about a year in the office of Messrs. Brown 
& Thompson, at the same place, the former of whom 
died in 1840, while a member of Congress. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1834, when he immediately 
commenced to practice, and has continued to do so 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 93 

ever since, with much more than ordinary success. 
It is said that he has tried more causes as a referee 
than any other lawyer in Saratoga county, having 
always had the confidence of the people as a man of 
sound judgment and a thorough knowledge of his pro- 
fession. In 1838 he was appointed, by Gov. Marcy, 
one of the Judges of the County Court, but resigned 
in 1840, when his terra of office had about half ex- 
pired, preferring to devote more of his time and 
attention to his private practice. He was also a 
Justice of the Peace from 1837 till 1849, and dis- 
charged the duties of the office with marked ability 
and entire satisfaction. 

In 1846 he was a candidate for the Assembly, and 
although Saratoga county was then strongly Whig, 
came very near an election as the regular nominee of 
the Democratic party. He was again nominated for 
the Assembly in 1855, and was elected by a plurality 
of seven hundred votes over the Republican, and 
about five hundred over the American candidate. He 
was a prominent member of the standing committee 
on Ways and Means in 4he legislature, and was the 
only Democratic member of the House placed upon 
that committee. In 1856 he was again elected to the 
Assembly, running far ahead of the rest of the Demo- 
cratic ticket in his district, and was one of the most 
active and prominent members of the standing com- 
mittee on the Judiciary. It was during this session 
that he made a speech on the negro suffrage question, 
which at once established his reputation as a sound 
thinker and a good debater. He took strong ground 



94 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

against the doctrine of universal suffrage, and while 
acknowledging that the negro had rights as well as 
the white man, maintained that the former ought not 
to be placed on an equal footing with the latter at the 
ballot box. In the fall of 1857 the Democrats of the 
Fifteenth Senatorial district, including the counties 
of Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton, 
brought him forward as a candidate for the seat 
which he now occupies in the Senate, and he was 
triumphantly elected by a handsome majority. 

Senator Scott was married in 1839, to Miss Lucy 
Lee, daughter of Joel Lee, a prominent citizen of 
Ballston, who had held several responsible positions 
at the hands of the people. He is one of the most 
concise and logical debaters in the Senate, and is 
truly remarkable for his calmness, self-possession, 
and dignity while addressing that body. He is most 
emphatically the right man in the right place, and 
will no doubt be received, at the end of the session, 
by his constituents, with the universal exclamation, 
•' well done thou good and faithful servant." 



SAMUEL SLOAN. 

Senator Sloan was born on the 25th of December, 
1817, in the beautiful little town of Lisburn, within 
seven miles of Belfast, in the north of Ireland, and 
is now forty years of age. When about two years 
old his parents emigrated to this country, and settled 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95 

in the city of New York. In 1798, however, some of 
his ancestors, owing to the political troubles of their 
native land, emigrated and settled in the state of 
Kentucky, where they and their numerous descend* 
ants have distinguished themselves for their devotion 
to republican institutions. 

At an early age Senator Sloan became a pupil in 
one of the public schools of New York. Subse- 
quently he entered the grammar school of Columbia 
college and pursued his studies until he was about 
fifteen years of age, when owing to the sudden death 
of his father, leaving his widowed mother, with five 
orphan children, almost exclusively upon their own 
resources, he was compelled to abandon his career 
as a student and turn his attention to some more 
practical mode of supporting himself and those in a 
great measure depending upon him. He entered the 
counting house of one of the most extensive English 
importing houses in New York, and soon after became 
a clerk in the old established house of McBride & Co., 
the founder of which, James McBride, recently de- 
ceased, was for near half a century engaged in the 
Irish and English trade, and everywhere known for 
his strict integrity of character. Senator Sloan re- 
mained in this house as clerk till 1845, when he be* 
came partner under the name of George McBride, Jr., 
& Co. On the 1st day of January, 1857, the firm 
was dissolved, and Senator Sloan having in Decem- 
ber, 1855, been elected president of the Hudson River 
rail-road company, retired from business and has 
since devoted his whole attention to the interests of 



96 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

the company. He still holds this office, and as the 
chief executiv^e officer of the company, has success- 
fully carried it through one of the severest trials 
experienced in rail-road management. 

In the spring of 1844 Senator Sloan married Miss 
Margaret Elmendorf, of Somerset county, N. J., a 
member of one of the oldest families in that section 
of the country, and removed to Brooklyn, where he 
has always since resided. In 1852 he was elected as 
Supervisor of Kings county, and in 1853 was appoint- 
ed one of the commissioners to form a charter for the 
consolidation of Brooklyn, Williamsburgh and Bush- 
wick. In these positions he discharged his duties 
wuth entire satisfaction to the people of the district 
he represented. In 1852 he was a candidate for 
nomination in the Democratic Congressional conven- 
tion of his district, but although the largest number 
of delegates were elected favorable to his nomination, 
he was by some unfair means defeated by two votes. 

He was never ambitious of political preferment, 
always preferring to devote his whole time and atten- 
tion to his own private affairs, but in the fall of 1857 
the Democrats of the Second Senatorial district suc- 
cessfully urged upon him the nomination for Senator. 
The district was then strongly Republican, and his 
competitor, Hon. Abijah Mann, Jr., enjoyed a high 
reputation as a legislator, but the contest resulted in 
the election of Mr. Sloan by a large majority. 

Senator Sloan has always been a Democrat of the 
National stamp. He is a prominent member of the 
Dutch Reformed church, and has always been actively 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 97 

connected with various benevolent and religious asso- 
ciations: In his general deportment he is quiet and 
unassuming; a skillful and correct business man; and 
a reliable legislator. As a citizen he occupies a high 
position in the city where he resides, and perhaps one 
of the most interesting and sociable occasions that 
has transpired in Brooklyn for many years was when 
its citizens congratulated him, with a complimentary 
dinner, in December last, upon his election to the 
Senate. In person he is somewhat tall and slender; 
has dark hair and eyes; a flushed face, and an honest, 
thoughtful countenance. Having arisen by his own 
exertions to the distinguished position he now occu- 
pies, his whole history is another striking illustration 
of the glorious influence of free republican institutions 
in assigning to merit and genius their proper place 
and reward. 



JOSHUA B. SMITH. 

Senator Smith was born in the town of Smithtown, 
county of Suffolk, N.Y., on the 9th of February, 1801, 
and has the appearance of being not more than forty 
years of age, having, as yet, scarcely a gray hair in 
his head. He is a lineal descendant of the sixth gene- 
ration, and still resides on the old homestead, where 
his father and grandfather lived and died. He belongs 
to the "Bull Smith" stock, so called from the faet». 
that the great-grandsire of the name, upon emigrating 
to this country, from Yorkshire, England, purchased,, 
9 



98 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

for a certain stipend, as much land as he could ride 
around in a day, and having no horses, which were 
then scarce, he used a bull for the purpose, which he 
had trained to the bridle. 

Senator Smith owes nothing to a regular course of 
education, having had the advantages only of an ordi- 
nary district school, and is, in a very great degree, a 
self-made man. He is a tiller of the soil, and from 
his youth up, has always been a practical farmer. In 
1827 he was appointed an Adjutant of the 137th regi- 
ment of the New York state militia, under a commis- 
sion of the late Gov. Marcy; and one year after, was 
made Lieutenant- Colonel of the same regiment. In 
1827 he was elected a Justice of the Peace, of the town 
in which he lives, and is said to have discharged the 
duties of the office in a highly satisfactory manner. 
In 1832 he was appointed one of the Judges of the 
court of Common Pleas, with the approval of the 
Governor of the state, which approval, was, in those 
days, indispensable, and held the position for two 
terms, embracing a period of ten years. His father 
had filled the same place before him for more than 
twenty- five years, and was so successful in his career, 
as a Judge, that he was permitted to occupy the posi- 
tion, notwithstanding frequent changes in the admi- 
nistration of' the state. His father was, also, for many 
years, a distinguished and influential member of the 
state Senate. 

In the fall of 1838 Senator Smith was chosen a 
member of Assembly, and was re-elected to the session 
of 1843, during the administration of ex-Gov. Bouck. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 99 

In the fall of the same year, he was nominated and 
elected to the Senate, from what was then the Se- 
cond Senatorial district, embracing a territory of 
nine counties. The state was then divided into eight 
Senatorial districts, and each district was entitled to 
four Senators, who were elected for four years. In 
the fall of 1857 the Democratic party again nominated 
him for the Senate, with great unanimity, and he was 
elected from what is now known as the First District, 
embracing the counties of Suffolk, Queens and Rich- 
mond. 

Senator Smith has always been an old National 
Democrat, as were also his father and grandfather 
before him. He has always been an active politician, 
feeling a deep interest in whatever pertains to the 
welfare of the country; but has never been what is 
usually termed a political demagogue or intriguer. 
Strong proof of this is the fact, that while he has 
not unfrequently refused many prominent positions at 
the hands of the people, he has never sought to avoid 
any duty which he felt he owed them. He fills his 
position in the Senate with dignity and ability, and, 
although not a frequent talker, possesses an influence 
which is seldom disregarded in the proceedings of that 
body. 

The Senator is a tall man, standing full six feet in 
his stockings; is quick, active in step, having an elas- 
tic frame, capable of endurance; and has black hair, 
a smooth face, and a penetrating, hazel eye. 



100 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

FRANCIS B. SPINOL A. 

Senator Spinola was born on the 19th of March, 
1821, at Stony Brook, Suffolk county, N. Y. His 
father, who came to this country at an early age, to 
complete his education, and who finally settled here, 
was a native of the island of Madeira, and his pater- 
nal grand-father was an Italian. Both his mother and 
maternal grand-mother were natives of Long Island, 
and his maternal grand-father, who served through the 
Revolutionary war, as an officer, was an Irishman. 

In early life Senator Spinola received but very little 
schooling, and when nearly sixteen years of age, was 
apprenticed to the trade of a jeweler. He served his 
time at this business, until he was twenty- one years 
of age, when he abandoned it, on account of an un- 
usual degree of inactivity in the trade. Being an 
extremely handy youth, he then turned his attention 
to black-smithing, which he followed nearly a year, 
when he engaged in the grocery business. After pur* 
suing this occupation a short time, he engaged himself 
to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
nearly a year, when he was appointed an Assistant to 
the Clerk of the Common Council, of the city of Brook- 
lyn, where he then, and has always since, resided. This 
post he occupied about a year, his engagement having 
been only for a specific amount of work, which he had 
completed within that period, and he then became a 
clerk in the office of the Hon. Cyrus P. Smith, with 
whom he remained a year. Shortly after, he was 
appointed Assistant Clerk of the Common Council, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lOl 

which position he filled until he was elected Alder- 
man, from the Second ward, in 1846. He was again 
the Whig candidate in the following year, and al- 
though the ward had always bein one of the Demo- 
cratic strong-holds, was defeated by only one vote. In 
the following spring, however, he was again elected, 
and was subsequently re-elected four different times. 
At the expiration of his term of office, as Alderman, 
he was elected three successive years as Supervisor, 
and in the fall of 1855, was the successful Democratic 
candidate in his district, for the Assembly. In 1857 
he was brought forward by the Democrats of the Third 
district, as a candidate for the Senate, and was tri- 
umphantly elected to that body, by a large majority, 
over the combined Republican and American vote. In 
addition to all these positions, he also held the post 
of Harbor Master five years, which he received from 
Gov. Young, and has been an active member of the 
fire department for twenty years, filling consecutively 
all the different offices, save that of Chief Engineer. 

Senator Spinola commenced his political career, as a 
zealous and consistent admirer of Henry Clay, and 
continued to act with the Whig party, until it resolved 
itself out of existence, when his conservative views on 
the Slavery question, led him into the Democratic 
ranks, where he has always since steadfastly remained. 
He was elected a member of the Whig general com- 
mittee, before he was twenty-one years of age, in the 
city of Brooklyn, and was then, as he is now, and as 
he always has been, one of the most active and influ- 
ential party men in the district or ward where he re- 



102 • BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

resides. He is always on hand on election day, ready 
to devote one day, at least, to the service of his 
country, and never fails to contribute his full share of 
labor to the success of the candidates and measures 
of the party to which he belongs. 

Senator Spinola is married, and was reared in the 
Episcopal branch of the church. In person, he is 
somewhat above the medium height; has a muscular, 
elastic frame; dark hair and complexion; sharp, blue 
eyes; smooth face, and a frank, good natured counten- 
ance. He is a good speaker; a practical, energetic 
legislator, and faithful in the discharge of his duty to 
his constituents and the state at large. 



HORATIO J. STOW. 

On entering the Senate Chamber the stranger's 
attention seldom fails to be first attracted by the 
personal appearance of Senator Stow. He is, physic- 
ally, the largest man in the Senate, being tall, very 
fleshy and corpulent, and weighing about two hundred 
and twenty-five pounds. He has a full, round, mas- 
sive face; a large, well-formed head, thinly coated 
with light, gray hair; light blue eyes, and a glowing 
countenance, which indicates a good liver — a highly 
seasoned relish for the best of oysters, fresh canvas 
back ducks, good, genuine heidsick, and all the 
other delicacies of this life. 

Senator Stow is doubtless, in his own way, the 
most remarkable man in the Senate. It is possible, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 103 

that, as he once said of Gen. Harrison, he was born 
at a very early period of his life, though the author 
having failed to obtain any authentic information as 
to his birth, it is not improbable, that, like another 
distinguished individual of whom we read in Uncle 
Tom's Cabin, he was never born at all. It appears, . 
however, that he is a native of Lowville, Lewis 
county, N. Y., and is about forty-eight years of age. 
He is descended from good, old, substantial English 
stock, and his father, Silas Stow, was a man of emi- 
nent distinction during his life time. He emigrated 
from Middletown, Conn., to New York as early as 
1797, and settled in Lewis county, which was then a 
part of Oneida. He was subsequently a Representa- 
tive in the Twelfth Congress from what was then the 
Tenth district, and for quite a series of years presid- 
ed on the bench of Lewis county as Chief Judge. 

Senator Stow was educated at the Lowville aca- 
demy, an institution of considerable reputation, and 
after leaving school, went into Jefferson county, and 
commenced the study of the law in the office of the 
Hon. Thomas C. Chittenden, a prominent lawyer in 
that section of the state, with whom he remained 
until admitted to the bar. Some time after, he re- 
moved to Erie county, and settled in Buffalo, where 
he at once established himself in the pursuit of his 
profession, speedily acquiring a reputation as a man 
of good mind and a sound, reliable judgment. Having 
practiced law a few years, he was elected Recorder of 
the city of Buffalo, which office he occupied several 
years, and was sent from Erie county to the Consti- 



104 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

tutional convention in 1846. He took an active and 
somewhat influential part in the deliberations of that 
body, but at the close of the Convention declined to 
subscribe to the new constitution, and went back to 
his constituents, repudiating every feature of the work 
that had just been accomplished. This was the last 
position he ever held at the hands of the people of 
Erie county, and a few years ago he abandoned the 
law, and removed to Lewiston, Niagara county, where 
he is now engaged, on a pretty extensive scale, in 
farming. 

In politics Senator Stow belongs to no distinct or- 
ganization, claiming to be entirely " Independent,'' 
and although strictly honest, is a striking illustration 
of the truth of the definition of Jefferson, who says 
that "an independent man is one upon whom no one 
can depend." He, at one time, formerly, acted with 
the Whig party, professing great friendship for and 
admiration of the lamented Clay, and in 1848 sup- 
ported Mr. Van Buren for the Presidency, on the cele- 
brated Buffalo platform. He was strongly opposed to 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, as he now is 
to the further extension of slavery, and in 1856 
warmly advocated the election of Col. Fremont to the 
presidency. In 1857 he was brought forward by the 
antirail-road interest of the Twenty-ninth district 
for Senator, in opposition to the Hon. Alonzo S. 
Upham, the Republican candidate, who was the spe- 
cial friend of the rail-road power, and was elected by 
a complimentary plurality. Thus far he has acted 
with all parties in the Senate, and has lost no time in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 105 

declaring war against what he regards the iniquitous 
rail-road power of the state — a subject which is seem- 
ingly claiming his entire time and attention. He ap- 
pears to sympathize more with the Republicans than 
either of the other parties in the Senate, and is some- 
times denominated an "Independent Republican;'* 
but it is difficult to correctly classify him, for he is 

"A creature of amphibious nature, 
On land a beast, a fish in water ; 
That always prays on grace or sin, 
A sheep without, a wolf within.'- 

Senator Stow is vain, eccentric, and volcanic, being 
often guided more by impulse than intellect, and ap- 
parently looks upon all men as his inferiors. His 
manner is singular and difficult to comprehend, one 
moment being social and communicative, at another 
entirely reserved and exceedingly repulsive; and he is 
as likely to meet you with a cool, distant turn of the 
head as a hearty, welcome smile. In social life, as 
in politics, he is a huge comet, sweeping recklessly 
through space, and neither his course nor his appear- 
ance can be calculated with the least precision. He pos- 
sesses more than ordinary originality of thought; is 
a sound and correct reasoner, and a fine speaker, sel- 
dom failing to command the closest attention of his 
hearers whenever he addresses the Senate. If it be 
true that he has determined to pursue a course not 
indicated by his general appearanoi^, there is doubt- 
less a brilliant future before him ; but he must not, 
like Alcibiades, deface the images of the gods and 
expect tc be pardoned on the score of eccentricity. 



106 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



LYMAN TRUMAN. 

Senator Truman is a native of Candor, Tioga 
County, N. Y., and is of English and Scotch descent. 
He was born on the 2d of March, 1806, and is there- 
fore now fifty-two years of age. Both his paternal 
and maternal grand- fathers took part in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle, and the latter was especially promi- 
nent in the troubles at Stonington, Conn., where the 
general government contracted a debt with him which 
was paid only a few years since. Lyman's father, 
Aaron Truman; emigrated from Massachusetts to New 
York, in 1804, and settled in Tioga county, where he 
died, in 1838, at the age of thirty-eight. His wife, 
the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native 
of Connecticut, and died, in 1844, at the age of sixty. 

Senator Truman is entirely the architect of his own 
fortune, having arisen to his present distinguished posi- 
tion from an humble condition in life. At the age of 
ten he was sent to a common district school, in his 
native town, where he passed about three months 
each winter, until he had attained his sixteenth j'ear. 
About this lime his father died, leaving him alone 
with a widowed mother and four brothers and three 
sisters, younger than himself, without any means 
scarcely of a support. His father, who was a farmer, 
it is true, left them in possession of the place upon 
which they were living, but it was so far encumbered 
as almost to preclude the possibility of his retaining 
it. Nothing daunted, however, Lyman went to work 
like a good fellow, and succeeded in supporting the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 107 

family, sending the children, at the same time, to 
school, and in retaining the farm, until all claims 
against it were fully paid, to the very last farthing. 
In accomplishing this he employed himself in various 
ways until he was twenty-four years of age, when he 
became a clerk in a store in an adjoining town. 
Here he remained three years in this capacity, when 
he embarked with a partner in the mercantile trade 
for himself, and continued thus engaged about three 
years. He then purchased his partner's interest in 
the establishment, and shortly after took his three 
younger brothers in with him as partners. About 
this time he purchased a farm, and presented it to 
the oldest of his brothers who had always followed 
the plow. He was succeeded in the mercantile trade 
a short time ago by his brother in law, and has since 
then been engaged with his younger brothers, in 
various successful enterprises. During the last thirty- 
four years he has likewise been a practical raftsman, and 
has never failed to make his annual trip down the Sus- 
quehanna in this capacity. He is a man of sterling in- 
tegrity and untiring energy; upright and honorable in 
all his dealings; and occupies a prominent position 
among the business men in the section of the state where 
he resides. A few years since he was elected President 
of the Bank of Owego, an institution which had then 
descended to almost universal discredit; but he suc- 
ceeded in placing it upon a sure footing, and success- 
fully carrying it through all the finantial troubles of 
the recent panic. Indeed, there are probably few 
better business men in the state than Lvman Truman. 



108 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Senator Truman held various unimportant town 
offices previous to 1840, when he was elected Super- 
visor. He was again elected twice to the same posi- 
tion, and in 1847 ran as a stump candidate for the 
Assembly in what was then a strong Democratic dis- 
trict, lacking only a few votes of an election. He 
declined all further nomination from that time until 
1857, when the Republicans of the Twenty-fourth dis- 
trict brought him forward as a candidate for, and 
elected him to the seat he now fills in the Senate. 
In early life he was an advocate of Democratic mea- 
sures and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. He 
became a Whig after 1833, and voted with that party 
until 1848, when his free-soil proclivities led him into 
the ranks of the supporters of Mr. Van Buren, for 
whom he then voted for President. From this time he 
took no further part in politics, being too much en- 
grossed with his own private affairs, until he was 
awakened from his political lethargy by the repeal of 
the Missouri Compromise. He immediately then be- 
came a zealous advocate of the Republican movement, 
and has ever since been a warm supporter of the 
docti-jnes of that party, taking the stump on all proper 
occasions in their behalf. He is, also, a strong ad- 
vocate of the system of free schools, and never fails 
to exert all his power and influence in support of the 
great cause of Temperance, 

Senator Truman was married on the 10th of January, 
1838, to Miss Emile M. Goodrich, by whom he has 
three children, and his family attend the Congrega- 
tional church. In person, he is a man about the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 109 

medium height; is muscuhir and well formed; has 
blue eyes, a dark complexion and a profusion of dark 
brown hair, with a pleasant, business-like face, whose 
features are very strongly marked. He is mild, 
courteous, and unostentatious in his manner; is plainly 
and well dressed; and never seems to be disengaged. 
He is a fair speaker, and a good reasoner, but never 
troubles the Senate with speech-making, regarding 
good, sound, safe legislation as more the result of 
correct thinking and thorough work than long-winded 
speeches. 



JAMES WADSWORTH. 

Senator Wadsworth is a native of the good old 
town of Durham, Middlesex county, Conn., where he 
was born in the year 1819. His father was an honest, 
upright and influential man, extensively engaged in 
farming in that section of the state, and although fre- 
quently nominated for some of the most distinguished 
places in the gift of the people, alwa3'S peremptorily de- 
clined holding any political office. During his life time 
'he was deeply interested in various benevolent and 
religious institutions, and for some time presided over 
the Connecticut State Agricultural society, as its 
chief officer. He was emphatically a farmer. 

Senator Wadsworth graduated at Yale college, in 

1841, with one of the first honors of his class, and is 

probably the most finished scholar in the Senate. 

After graduating he passed nearly three years in the- 

10 



110 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

belles lettres and law department of that institution, 
after which he went to New York, and spent two 
years in the law office of Benjamin D. Silliman, of 
that city. His legal course having been completed he 
was married in 1846, to Miss Rose F. Robinson, of 
his native place, and in the following year was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and established himself in the city 
of Buffalo in the practice of the law. He at once 
took a high position in his profession, and as early 
as 1849 — two years after his admission to the bar — • 
was appointed Attorney for that city, which office he 
held a year. It was customary then for the City At- 
torney, when engaged in the trial of an important 
case, to choose an assistant counsel — a contingency 
for which a special appropriation was made from the 
city fund; but Mr. Wads worth coneluHed to conduct 
his first cause, at least, without any aid, and so suc- 
cessful was he in doing so, that the city authorities 
immediately increased his salary and dispensed with 
the services of any assistant counsel during the bal- 
ance. of his term of office. From this, it will be seen, 
that he was eminently successful then as a young 
practitioner in the law. 

In 1850 Senator Wadsworth was brought forward 
as the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Buffiilo, 
and was elected by a larger majority than was ever 
before given for that office in that city. He was re- 
nominated in 1851, but declined being a candidate, 
in consequence of his having just previously been ap- 
pointed President of the Buffalo, Brantford and Gode- 
rich Rail Road company, now the Buflfalo and Lake 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lH 

Huron company, which position then occupied nearly- 
all his time. Daring the years 1852, '53 and '54, he 
went to England three several times on a mission for 
this company, to negotiate its bonds, and brought 
home with him as the result of his labors, three and 
a half millions of dollars. Shortly after his return 
the last time, to the United States, he resigned his 
place as president of the company, and devoted his 
whole time and attention to a large landed estate 
which he had on hands, and which he had previously 
too much neglected. While abseiit in Canada, in 
1855, he was nominated by acclamation as a repre- 
sentative in the Senate, from the Thirty-first district, 
and was successful as the first Democratic Senator 
ever elected from Erie county. The Opposition had 
been in the ascendancy in that section of the state for 
upwards of thirty years, and his election was perhaps 
the most signal political triumph ever achieved in 
that county. He was again nominated by acclamation 
for the Senate, in 1857, and was successful by a ma- 
jority of three thousand, carrying every ward in the 
city of Buffalo. Thus far his career as a Senator has 
been straight-forward, consistent and patriotic, and 
he is entirely unsurpassed by any member of that 
body as a close reasoner, a finished orator, a success- 
ful impromptu debater, and a sound, faithful and in- 
dustrious legislator. During the session of 1857 he 
took a deep interest in the toll question, and enacted 
a conspicuous and influential part in behalf of Trinity 
church, against the determined and almost irresist- 



112 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

ible effort that was then made for a division of her 
property. 

Senator Wadsworth has always been a staunch, 
unflinching national Democrat, and although belonging 
to the purer class of politicians, has never failed to 
contribute his full share of service to the promotion 
of the principles of that party. In person he is tall, 
being upwards of six feet in height; is finely formed; 
lias dark hair, large, soul-lit eyes, and pale features. 
Me is whole-souled, generous, and courteous in his 
intercourse with persons in the Senate and out of it, 
and enjoys an unusual degree of personal popularity 
among the great mass of the people. He was bred a 
Congregationalist, but now attends the Presbyterian 
vchurch. 



OSMER B. WHEELER. 

Senator Wheeler is the son of Jesse Wlieeler, a 
professional lawyer and successful agriculturist, in 
Connecticut, and was born in 1810, in the town of 
Weston, Fairfield county, in that state. At the age 
of fourteen he was apprenticed to the tanning and 
•currying trade, in the city of Bridgeport, a few miles 
from his native place, and served an apprenticeship 
until he was twenty years of age. Shortly after, he 
immigrated to Greene county, N. Y., where he became 
foreman of the extensive establishment of Col. Zadock 
Pratt, with whom he remained in this capacity about 
eight years, at the end of which time, he removed to 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 113 

Sullivan county, where he engaged in the tanning 
business, on his own responsibility. He is now a very 
large land holder, and is proprietor of the most ex- 
tensive oak tannery in the United States. His esta- 
blishment is known as the " Oakland Tannery," and 
is surrounded by a village, with a population of abo.ut 
three hundred, which he has built within a few years, 
and which is known by the name of Oakland. He has 
taken great pains in laying out the village, and has 
succeeded in making it one of the most pleasant little 
places in the state. 

Senator Wheeler has received a thorough business 
education, and is emphatically a self-made man . When 
he removed to Greene county from his native state, his 
entire capital consisted in two dollars and a half, in 
cash; but he is now comfortably situated in life, hav- 
ing, by his industry, perseverance and frugality, ac- 
quired an independent fortune. His reputation as an 
active, correct business man, is unequaled in Sullivan 
county, and to this trait in his character may, no 
doubt, be safely attributed the largest share of his 
success in life. Indeed, wherever he is known, he is 
regarded as a useful, practical, energetic and common 
sense man, and his whole life affords an additional 
illustration of the truth, that it is impossible "to get 
something for nothing,^' and that the Divine declara- 
tion, •' thou shalt eat thy bread by the sweat of thy 
brow," has lost none of its original force. 

Senator Wheeler made his first entrance into public 
life, in 1852, when he was elected Supervisor of the 
town in which he now resides. He was subsequently 



114 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

elected three times to the same position, and held 
several other responsible public trusts, until the fall 
of 1857, when the Americans of the Ninth district, 
nominated him for the seat he now fills in the Senate. 
His nomination was afterwards endorsed by the Re- 
publicans, who were favorable to him on personal 
grounds, and who had nearly despaired of succeeding 
with a candidate of their own peculiar faith, and he 
was elected by a majority of upwards of sixteen hun- 
dred, notwithstanding the fact, that many dissatisfied 
Republicans either voted for the Democratic candidate, 
or did not attend the polls at all. He, however, went 
into the contest as a genuine, national American, and 
may consequently be said to have triumphed almost 
entirely, through the influence and strength of his own 
party. He was rocked in a Henry Clay Whig cradle; 
was reared as a Whig, and w^as always an active and 
devoted advocate of the principles of that party, while 
it had an organization. But when the American 
party suddenly sprung into existence, upon the exi- 
gencies of the times, he immediately took a decided 
stand in behalf of its principles ; and was among the 
first to take part in its organization, in Sullivan 
county. He has never been an aspirant for political 
distinction, although, by no means, an indifferent ob- 
server of whatever pertains to the welfare and interest 
of the country, and has not unfrequently refused pro- 
minent public positions, at the hands of the people. 

At the age of twenty-three, 'Senator Wheeler was 
married to Miss Rebecca Jones, a daughter of John D. 
Jones, an eminent physician, then residing at Wind- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 115 

ham, Greene county, N. Y., by whom he has six child* 
ren — three sons and three daughters. He is a warm 
hearted and affectionate man; a faithful friend and a 
generous enemj^; and possesses, in an eminent degree, 
the elements of personal popularity. He is not im- 
pulsive; and when once settled in his opinions and 
convictions, is decidely frank and fearless in their ex- 
pression. He is easily approached, and combines 
courtesy and affability with dignity arid firmness. His 
frank and open countenance is peculiarly inviting, and 
he is rarely addressed by a stranger without adding 
one more to his already extensive circle of personal and 
political friends. In person, he is of medium height; 
has full, dark eyes, and dark hair; a smooth, frank 
face; and exhibits unmistakable signs of permanent, 
good health. He very seldom addresses the Senate, 
but when he does, he advances immediately to the 
real point in controversy, which he n"ever fails to dis- 
cuss with clearness and sound logic. 



WILLIAM A. WHEELER. 

Senator Wheeler is emphatically a self-taught, self- 
made man, having arisen from an humble condition 
in life, to his present distinguished position before the 
people of the Empire State. He is a native of Ma- 
lone, Franklin county, N. Y., where he has always 
resided, and is just verging upon the meridian of 
manhood, being only, thirty-seven years of age. His 
paternal ancestors were Welch, and maternal, English, 



116 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

His father died when he was quite youngjeaving him 
to take care of himself, which he did, for a brief pe- 
riod, when the Hon. Asa Hascall, a prominent law- 
yer in Malone, discovering something more than ordi- 
narily promising in the boy, took him under his 
special guardianship. He immediately went into the 
office of Mr. Hascall, where he became a diligent 
and faithful student, making himself, at the same 
time, as serviceable as possible to his guardian and 
preceptor, until he was about twenty years of age, 
when he took charge of the entire office and its busi- 
ness himself, Mr. Hascall having been rendered in 
capable to attend to business, by an apoplectic stroke, 
which prostrated him about that time. He then fbl- 
fowed his profession as a lawyer about eight years, 
when he was tendered and accepted a position in the 
Bank of Malone, as Cashier, which he has always 
since held. Shortly after, he was also appointed 
Clerk of the Board of Directors, of the Northern rail 
road, running from Ogdensburgh through the city of 
Malone, to Rouse's Point; a road with which he has 
always since b-een connected, and of which he became 
President, in February last. He has always been a 
practical, thoroughgoing business man; never an active 
politician. 

Senator Wheeler never occupied any political posi- 
tion until 1849, when the Whigs of Franklin county 
nominated and elected him to the Assembly. He was 
again the successful Whig candidate as a member of 
that body, in the fall of 1850, and during both sessions, 
established his reputation as an accurate and industri- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. . 117 

ous representative. Having completed his second 
legislative term, as a member of the House, he de- 
clined all further political distinction, until the fall of 
1857, when at the urgent solicitation of many personal 
and political friends, he became the Republican candi- 
date for Senator, in the Seventeenth district, and was 
victorious, as the incumbent of the position he now 
occupies in that body. He was formerly closely at- 
tached to the Whig party, but never participated in 
politics, his business engrossing his entire time and 
attention, until the Republican movement was organ- 
ized, since which, he has become somewhat active, 
though, even yet, an attentive and industrious busi- 
ness man. 

About ten years ago, Senator Wheeler was married 
to a daughter of Judge King, of Franklin county. He 
has no children. He is a man about five feet ten 
inches in height; is somewhat singularly proportioned; 
has light hair and light, blue eyes; a wide expressive 
mouth; a good forehead; large, perceptive faculties, 
and a pale, nervous complexion. He is a loud, earnest 
speaker, combining general coolness with occasional 
excitability, and generally participates in most of the 
discussions of the Senate. He is a representative of 
whom his constituency need not be ashamed. 



118 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

JOSEPH A. WILLARD. 

Senator Willard was born on the 26th of April, 
1803, in the town of Hubbardton, Rutland county, Vt. 
He is of English descent. His father, Francis Wil- 
lard, emigrated to Vermont from Massachusetts, when 
about sixteen years of age, and was a house joiner and 
carpenter. He died in March, 1856, at the age of 
seventy-eight, and Joseph's mother died at the age of 
seventy-three. They were both well known through- 
out the section of country where they lived, for their 
honest industry and persevering self reliance, and died 
respected and beloved by all who knew them. 

Senator Willard received a common school educa- 
tion in his native place. At the age of fifteen he was 
apprenticed to the clothier business, in the town of 
Castleton, where he remained until he was twenty- 
one years of age. He then removed to New York, 
and settled in Lowville, Lewis county, where he has 
always since resided, and where he is now engaged 
in the clothier and manufacturing business. Subse- 
quent to the year 1825, he participated somewhat in 
military affairs, and arose in rank to Quarter-Master 
Major Colonel and Brigadier-General, of the 26th 
Brigade and 12th Division. Meanwhile he occupied 
several responsible offices in the town where he re- 
sides, and in 1856 was elected Supervisor. He was 
again elected in the spring of 1857, and in the fall of 
the same year was the successful candidate, from the 
Eighteenth district, for the place he now occupies 
in the Senate, He was elected by a complimentary 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 119 

majority over his competitor, who received the com- 
bined Democratic and American vote of the district. 
He is one of the oldest men in Uie Senate, and, al- 
though not a frequent debater, discharges the duties of 
his position, in a manner that will, doubtless, be entire- 
ly satisfactory to his immediate constituents, and the 
people generally, throughout the state. He is a man 
of great decision of character — positive and fearless 
In the expression of his views, and never takes for 
granted what is succeptible of demonstration. 

Senator Willard was formerly a Whig, of strong 
Free Soil proclivities, and was always found acting 
with that party, until it abandoned its organization, 
when he entered into the Republican movement. In 
1854 he was a delegate to the Anti-Nebraska State 
convention, at Saratoga, and was one of the Vice- 
Presidents, at Syracuse, in the fall of 1856.. when 
Gov. King was nominated for the distinguished post 
which he now occupies. Previous to the repeal of the 
Missouri compromise, he took little part in the politics 
of the day, though his abhorance of the Kansas-Ne- 
braska bill was so great, that since its passage he has 
been an industrious, energetic and influential member 
of the Republican organization. 

On the 22d of October, 1829, he was married to 
Miss Euseba Eager, of Lowville, by whom he has four 
children living, and is a member of the Presbyterian 
branch of the church. He is a man of medium height ; 
has a large, square, robust and vigorous frame; a 
thick, heavy head of snow white hair; hazel eyes, and 
a round, full, glowing face, which indicates good 



120 BIOGRAPHICAIi SKETCHES. 

health and happy contentment. No member, probably, 
in the entire circle, looks the Senator more than does 
Senator Willard. 



JOHN D. WILLARD. 

Senator Willard is a native of Lancaster, N. H., 
and is the son of a clergyman. He is a descendant of 
Major Simon Willard, who emigrated to this country 
from the county of Kent, England, in 1643 ; who was 
afterwards a member of the Council of the colony of 
Massachusetts, and who is celebrated in the history 
of the early Lidian wars. At a later period another 
of his ancestors was president of Harvard university. 

Senator Willard was educated at Dartmouth col- 
lege, where he graduated at the early age of nineteen. 
He held a very high rank in college as a scholar, and 
when he graduated was selected to deliver the oration 
before one of the two rival literary societies. Just 
as he was about to commence the study of his profes- 
sion his health failed, and his physicians advised a 
change of climate, as offering the only prospect of 
saving his life. He therefore sailed for Savannah, 
and spent a winter in that city and its neighborhood, 
deriving from it something of the hoped for benefit. 
But it was long before his health was restored, and 
this misfortune made a blank of two years in his life. 
Subsequently he commenced the study of the law in 
Chenango county, N. Y., completed it in Troy, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1826. He immediately 
opened an office in that city, where he had already 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 121 

made many warm friends. The next year he was 
nominated by De Witt Clinton for Surrogate of the 
county of Rensselaer. At that time the *' Bucktail " 
party had a majority in the Senate, and his confirm- 
ation was opposed on political grounds only, and was 
defeated. In 1834 he was appointed Judge of the 
County Courts of Rensselaer county, on the nomina- 
tion of Wm. L. Marcy. This office he held six years. 
In the mean time his business as a lawyer had been 
constantly increasing, and was now very extensive. 
He then determined to devote himself entirely to his 
profession, and after this time steadily refused all 
nominations for election to public office. He still, 
however, remained a member of the Democratic 
Central committee, and continued to exert a large 
influence on the politics of the county. He com- 
menced practice without- a partner, but as his busi- 
ness increased he found it necessary to divide the 
labor; and the firm then became Willard & Raymond, 
and afterwards Willard, Raymond & Woodbury. In 
1850, accompanied by his wife, he carried out a plaa 
he had long cherished, of visiting Europe. He spent 
two months in Great Britain, and two months in 
Paris; in the autumn he visited Belgium, Western 
Germany and Switzerland; and passed the winter in; 
Italy, dividing his time chiefly between Florence, 
Rome and Naples. In the following spring and sum- 
mer he extended his tour through Austria, Hungary, 
Prussia and Poland, going as far east as Warsaw. He 
afterwards visited Holland, and returned to America, 
after an absence of more than a year. In 1855 ha 
11 



122 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

again enabarked for Europe, partly for the benefit of 
his health, and partly to accompany a son. He was 
absent from the country on this visit about fifteen 
months. Of late he has retired from the practice of 
the law. 

In the fall of 1857 Judge Willard yielded to the 
earnest request of his Democratic friends, and ac- 
cepted the nomination of that party for Senator from 
the Twelfth district, and was elected, although the 
district gave at the previous election a majority for 
Fremont over Buchanan of nearly five thousand. 
This result was owing partly to his great personal 
popularity, and the high position he occupied in the 
ranks of his party. During the canvass the newspa- 
pers in the district, politically opposed to his elec- 
tion, referred to him in terms of high personal respect. 
The Troy Times, the Republican organ, speaking of 
the Democratic Senatorial convention, said: '* Hon. 
John D. Willard, of this city, was nominated for 
Senator by acclamation. He is an excellent citizen, 
is a man of talents and good legal acquirements, and 
is certainly well qualified to discharge the duties of 
the office for which he has been nominated. The 
district, how^ever, is against the judge and his party, 
Washington and Rensselaer counties having last year 
given near 5,000 Republican majority over the Demo- 
cracy. He will be rejected, however, solely on poli- 
tical grounds, his personal worthiness being such as 
all good citizens would approve of." The Troy Daily 
Whig, an American organ, speaking, after the election, 
of the result, also adds : ' ' But since the choice of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 123 

people has fallen to a political opponent, it is a plea- 
sure to know that he is a gentleman of capacity, 
unexceptionable in every relation of private life, and 
will fill the responsible station with credit to himself 
and his constituency." 

At the charter election in Troy in March, 1858, he 
was earnestly urged by his political friends to accept 
the office of Mayor. The Troy Budget of March 6, 
referring to the convention, says: "There was a 
general desire for the nomination of Judge Willard 
for the Mayoralty, and he would have been the una- 
nimous choice of the delegates, if his acceptance 
could have been obtained, which he declined in posi- 
tive terms to give." In consequence of his declining 
the Hon. Araba Read received the Democratic 
nomination, and was elected by about five hundred 
majority. 

Judge Willard, though not a church member, 
attends the services of the Presbyterian church, and 
for several years has been chairman of the board of 
trustees of the Second Presbyterian congregation in 
Troy — the Rev. Dr. Smalley's. He is a Director in 
the Commercial Bank of Troy, and is a member of 
various literary and scientific societies. He is fifty- 
eight years of age. In 1839 he married Miss Laura 
Barnes, and has two sons. He has a taste for literary 
pursuits, and has found time amid the engrossing 
cares of a laborious profession, to give much attention 
to general literature. In public, as in private life, he 
is a straight-forward, upright, decided and reliable 
man; a sound, successful lawyer, always occupying 



124 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

the front rank in his profession; an able legislator; 
and a representative of whom the people of the 
Twelfth Senatorial district may well feel proud. 



ALEXANDER B. WILLIAMS. 

Senator Williams was born on the 29th, of October, 
1815, in Alexandria, D. C, Va. His father, John 
Williams, was of German extraction, but was native 
born, as were also his mother's family. He is the 
•second of six sons, three of whom, besides himself, are 
still living. His father emigrated to New York in 
the year 1825, and settled in the town of Sodus, 
Wayne county, on the southern borders of Lake Onta- 
rio. He was a successful practical mechanic, and 
assisted in the construction of the first packet boat 
ever run on the Erie canal. He died at that place, 
in 1843, in a fit of apoplexy, at the advanced age of 
sixty-seven. His wife, the mother of the hero of this 
sketch, is still living, and has attained the age of sixtj'- 
eight. 

Senator Williams had not the advantages of a clas- 
ysical education, having received all the schooling he 
has, before his parents removed to New York, when 
he was only ten years of age. About this time his 
father placed him in a dry goods store in Sodus, as a 
clerk, and his employer having no children of his 
own, adopted him. Here he remained until he was 
about eighteen years old, when falling out one day 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 125 

with his employer, he concluded to leave him, and 
accordingly did so, by hiring himself out to another 
man, engaged in the same business, at nine dollars per 
month. He continued in this new position till 1835, 
when having become one of the most popular, efficient, 
and industrious clerks in that section of the country, 
his employer took him into his establishment as a 
partner, without any share in the capital, save his 
qualifications as a merchant. This partnership con- 
tinued till 1837, when the firm sold out, and he en- 
gaged in the same business, with what little capital 
he had by that time acquired, on his own responsi-. 
bility. He then continued in the mercantile trade 
till 1841, when he again sold out. In ihe summer of 
the same year he was appointed, under President Har- 
rison, to the post of Deputy Collector and Inspector at 
Big Sodus Bay, which he held until just previous to 
the advent of the Administration of Mr. Polk, when 
he resigned. Then again he embarked in the mer- 
cantile business, in which he continued till the fall 
of 1845, when he finally sold out for the last time. 
In this same year he was elected county clerk, and 
was subsequently elected to the same place, holding 
the office, in all, about six years. At the expiration 
of his clerkship he found his health greatly impaired 
by his too close application to the duties of his office, 
and has ever since been devoting most of his time to 
traveling in the western states, where he has dealt 
pretty extensively in the buying and selling of land. 

Senator Williams has had considerable experience 
as a military man, having arisen from a Lieutenancy 



126 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in a private company, to the position of Lieutenant 
Colonel in the 242d Regiment, and has proved him- 
self eminently qualified for every position to which 
he has been called. In 1841 he was elected Justice 
of the Peace in the town in which he resided by a 
handsome majority, although the town was strongly 
Democratic and he was the Whig candidate. In 1845 
he was again elected to the same office, and was also 
at the same time elected a supervisor, by large majori- 
ties in both instances. In 1855 he was the unsuc- 
cessful Republican candidate for state treasurer, and 
in 1857, was nominated for the position which he 
now holds in the Senate, with great unanimity, by the 
Republicans of his district, and was elected by a ma- 
jority of over three thousand, against a combination 
• of Democrats and Americans. He has not unfrequent- 
ly been tendered the nomination of his party for Con- 
gress, but has always peremptorily declined. 

In 1832, Senator Williams was married to Miss 
Sarah M., daughter of John McCarty, a successful 
farmer who died, in Wayne county, in 1831. She is 
a modest, unassuming, sociable woman, and every 
way calculated for a good wife, a kind mother, and a 
generous and hospitable friend and neighbor. 

Senator Williams early espoused the Anti-Masonic 
cause, and was secretary of an Anti- Masonic meeting 
at the age of twelve years. He was a member of the 
first Whig organization in Wayne county, in 1834, 
and continued to act with the Whig party, until it 
lost its organization, in 1854, when he embarked in 
the Republican cause. He was a delegate to the first 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 127 

Anti-Nebraska State Convention at Saratoga in 1854, 
and was at Auburn when the Republican party was 
christened at that place. He has always been an ac- 
tive, decided party man, and is perfectly booked up in 
the politics of the state and the Union. Owing to 
impaired health he has, as yet, been able to spend but 
very little time in his seat in the Senate, though he 
has not by any means been negligent of the interests 
of his immediate constituents, or the state. He is 
a man of strong intellectual powers; is a clear and 
concise reasoner; and in legislation, as in everything 
else, combines theory with practicability, adopting 
the former only so far as it conforms to the latter. 



MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, 

Number of their respective Districts, and the Coun- 
ties and Wards composing the same, 

LiEUT.-Gov. HENRY R. SELDEN. of Rochester, Presic/cnf. 

Diet. Counties and Wards. Senators. 

1, Suffolk, Queens, and Richmond 

counties, Joshua B. Smith, 

2, 1st, 20, 3cl, 4th, 5lh, 7th, 11th, 

13ih and 19th wards of Brook- 
lyn, Samuel Sloan, 

3, 6th, 8th, 9th, ]Oth, IStli, 14th, 

15th, 16th, 17th and 18th 

wards of Brooklyn, Francis B. Spinola, 

4, 1st, 2d, 3fl, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th 

a! d 14ih wards of New York, John C. Mather, 

5, 10th, 11th, 13ih and 17th wards 

of New York, Smith Ely, Jr., 

6, 9th, 15th, 16th and 18th wards 

of New York, Richard Schell, 

7, 12th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22d 

wards of New York, John Doherty^ 

8, Westchester, Putnam and Rock- 

land counties, • Benj. Brandreth, 

9, Orange and Sullivan, Osmar B. Wheeler, 

10, Ulster and Greene, George W. Pratt, 

11, Dutchess and Columbia, Wm. G. MaudeviUe, 



MEMBERS OF THE SENATE. 



129 



Dist. Counties and Wards. Senators. 

12, Rensselaer and Wasliington,. .. John D. Willard, 

13, Albany, George Y. Johnson, 

14, Delaware^ Schoharie and Sche- 

nectady, Ed. J. Burhans, 

15, Montgomery, Fulton, Saratoga 

and Hamilton, George C. Scott, 

16, Warren, Essex and Franklin,.. Ralph A. Loveland, 

17, St. Lawrence and Franklin,.., Wm. A, Wheeler, 

18, Jefferson and Lewis, Joseph A. Willard, 

19, Oneida, Alrick Hubbell, 

20, Herkimer and Otsego, Addison U. Laflin, 

21, Oswego, Cheney Am es, 

22, Onondaga, James Noxon. 

23, Madison, Chenango and Cort- 

land, John J. Foote, 

24, Tompkins, Tioga and Broome, Lyman Truman, 

25, Wayne and Cayuga, Alex. B. Williams, 

26, Ontario, Yates and Seneca,.... Truman Boardman. 

27, Chemung, Schuyler & Steuben, Alex. S. Diven, 

28, Monroe, John E. Patterson, 

29, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee,. Horatio J. Stow, 

30, Wyoming, Livingston and Alle- 

gany, John B. Halstead, 

31, Erie, James Wadsworth, 

32, Chautauque and Cattaraugus,.. John P. Darling. 



130 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE. 



ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SENATORS. 

The Counties in which they reside, their Post Office 
Address, and Politics. 

Senators. Counties. P. O. address. Politics. 

Cheney Ames, Oswego, .... Oswego city, .... Rep. 

Truman Board man,. Seneca, Trumansburg,. .. Rep. 

Benj. Brandreth,.. .. Westchester, Sing Sing,. .. .. Dem. 

Edward I. Burhans, . Delaware, . . . Roxbury, Dem. 

John P. Darling, .. .. Cattaraugus,. Cattaraugus,.... Rep. 

Alex. S. Diven, Chemung,... Elmira, ...... .". Rep. 

John Doherty, New York,.. New York city,. Dem. 

Smith Ely, Jr., New York,.'. New ^ork city,. Dem. 

John J. Foote, Madison,.... Hamihon, Rep. 

John B. llalstead ,.. . Wyoming,.., Castile, Rep. 

Alrick Hubbell,. . . . . Oneida, Utica, Rep. 

Geo. Y. Johnson,... Albany, Dunnsville, Am. 

Addison H. Laflin, . . Herkimer, . . . Herkimer, ...... Rep. 

Ralph A. Loveland,. Essex, Westport, ... .. > Rep. 

Wm. G. Mandeville, Colunihia,. . . Stuyvcsant Falls, Deni. 
John C. Mather,.... New York,.. New York city,. Dem. 

James Noxon, Onondaga,... Syracuse........ Rep. 

John E. Patterson, . . Monroe, Parma Centre, . . Rep. 

George W. Pratt, . . . Ulster,. ...... Kingston, Dem. 

Richard Schell, New York, . . New York city,. Dem. 

George C. Scott,.... Saratoga,.... Ballston, ...... . Dem. 

Samuel Sloan, Kings Brooklyn, Dem. 

Joshua B. Smith,.. . Suffolk, Hauppauge, Dem. 

Francis B. Spiiiola,. Kings, Brooklyn,., Dem. 

Horatio J. Stow, .... Niagara,. .... Lewiston, Ind. 

Lyman Truman,.... Tioga, Owego, ...-»... . Rep. 

James Wads worth,. Erie, Buffalo......... Dem. 

Osmer B.Wheeler,, Sullivan...., Otisville, Or. co.. Am. 



SENATE COMMITTEES. 131 

wJTTn , ''""^""' P.O. address. PoHtic«. 

Wm. A. Wheeler,... Franklin,... Malone, Ren 

Joseph A. Willard,.. Lewis, Lovvville, Rep 

John D. Willard,... Rensselaer,.. Troy, Deni. 

Rep. 



Alex. B. Williams,.. Wayne, Lyons, 



SENATE STANDING COMiVJITTEES. 

C/am5— Patterson, Scolt, Truman. 

Fwance—Biven, Schel), Halstead. 

Judidanj—N oTion, Diven, J. D. Willard. 

Canals—Stow, Loveland, Mather. 

Rail noads—Bai'Vwg, Brandreth, Hubbell. 

Charilable and Religious •S'oad.V^-Truman, Smith, Wads- 
worth. ' 

iiVera/Mre— Wadsworlh, Laflin, Foote. 

Militia— Fooie, Pratt, Laflin. 

Roads and Bridgcs-Wm^n.B, Mandeville, O. B. Wheeler 

Grievances— MiMher, Johnson, Hubbell. 

Banks-W. A. Wheeler, Sloan, Foote. 

Insurance Companies— WuhheW, Ssott, Ely 

Privileges and Electhns-W, A. Wheeler,* Spinola, John- 
son. 

Internal Jiffairs of Toivns and Counties-J. A. William^ 
Halstead, Spinola. ^ "' 

Slate Pnsons-LQvehmd, Williams, Brandreth. 
Poor Laivs-ScheU, J. A. Willard, Mandeville. 
Engrossed Bills— Fim, Darling, Ely. 
Indian ^j^nVs— Boardman, Darling,* J. D. Willard. 
Commerce and. Yavigation— Am.2s, Stow, Sloan. 
-^gricultiire-Smnh, Boardman, Burhans. 
Mamifactures-L^^mn, O. B. Wheeler, Johnson. 
i2e/re;ic^m€w/— Burhans, Doherty, Patterson 
Public Buildings-O. B. Wheeler, Doherty, Ames. 



X32 SENATE COMMITTEES. 

Division of Towns and Counties-ScoU, Mandeville, Board- 



man. 



Cities and Villages— Ua^sXesid, Ely, Noxon. 
Public Expenditures-Tvumai^, Schell, W. A. Wheeler. 
Expiring Laws— Vaitersoii, Doherty, Wadsworth. 
Medical Societies— Brai\dreth,Stow, h A. Willard. 
Public Printing— hoxeland, Smith, Williams. 
Manufacture of ^aZ/— Noxon, Adams, Mather. 
Joint Library— Trait, Diven, J. D. Willard. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 133 



MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY. 



THOMAS G. ALYORP, 
spIeaker. 

Mr. Alvord was born on the 20th of December, 
1810, in Onondaga, Onondaga co., N. Y., and is des* 
cended from good old Dutch and English stock. His 
paternal grand-father and uncle both served through 
the Revolution, and the latter was at West Point, as 
one of the body guard at the execution of Andre. 
They were, also, both conspicuous at Yorktown, and 
his maternal grand- father, Cornelius Lansing, of Lan- 
singburgh, who was a captain in the militia, success- 
fully defended Ft. Edward during the battle of Sara- 
toga. Elisha Alvord, Thomas's father, emigrated from 
Connecticut to New York, in 1792, and settled in Onon- 
daga county. His wife died in 1826, and he, in 1846. 

Mr. Alvord received the rudiments of his education 
at Lansingburgh, under the tuition of the Hon. George 
A. Simmons, and in 1828 graduated at Yale college, 
having for his class-mates the Hon. John Van Buren, 
and Christopher Morgan. He then passed eighteen 
months as a clerk in Pittsfield, Mass., after which he 
studied law in the office of his former preceptor, Mr.. 
Simmons, in Keeseville, where he remained till 1832,. 
12 



134 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

when he completed his studies with Messrs. Kirkland 
& Bacon, at Utica, and was admitted to practice the 
same year. On the 1st of January following, he 
established himself as a lawyer in the village of Salina, 
now the city of Syracuse, and pursued the profession 
till 1846, when he became an active lumberman and 
coarse salt manufacturer and dealer. This is still his 
occupation at Salina. 

Mr. Alvord began his political career as clerk of 
his native town, and held various town and village 
offices until 1843, when he was elected to the Assem- 
bly, where, although one of the youngest and most 
inexperienced members, he enacted an influential and 
conspicuous part as Chairman of the standing com- 
mittees on Rail-roads and Claims. He was again a 
candidate in 1850, but was defeated by sixteen votes, 
by Mr. Leavenworth, his Whig competitor. He was 
the "Soft Shell" candidate for Congress in 1854, in 
the Twenty-fourth district, but alihough running far 
ahead of his ticket, was defeated by Gen. Granger, 
the Whig candidate. He was not again a candidate 
for any office till 1857, when he was elected to the 
present House, as the first Democrat elected to that 
body from his district since the establishment of the 
district system by the present constitution. He has 
always stood well with his party and the people, and 
has never been beaten in his own town or city as a 
candidate for office. 

Mr. Alvord has always been a sound Democrat, 
and adhered firmly to the Hard Shell section of the 
party till 1853, when he acted with the "Soft" sec- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 135 

tion. He is an active, zealous and laborious poli- 
tician, taking the stump on all suitable occasions in 
behalf of the principles of his party, and has not unfre- 
quently been a member of State conventions, where 
he has never failed to take an influential part. He 
presides over the House, as its chief officer, with be- 
coming dignity and decorum, and dispatches business 
with a rapidity and correctness that would have done 
credit to most of his distinguished predecessors. He 
is a man of family; attends the Presbyterian church; 
and possesses a high degree of personal popularity. 



CHAUNCEY M. ABBOTT. 

Mr. Abbott is a native of Niles, Cayuga county, 
N. Y., and was born on the 14th of August, 1822. 
His great grand-sire was an Englishman, and he is 
descended from the Abbott family who figured so 
largely in the English judiciary. His paternal grand- 
father, who was a native of Massachusetts, and sub- 
sequently lived in Vermont, took part in the Revo- 
lution, and at ihe end of the war, located on the 
same tract of land upon which the subject of this 
sketch now resides. Mr. Abbott attended a common 
school till 1837, when he studied a year at Pough- 
keepsie and about the same length of time at the 
Moravia institute, after which he took charge of his 
father's business, he having been suddenly prostrated 
by an attack of inflammatory rheumatism. This caused 
him to abandon a previous determination to become 



136 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

a professional man, and he consequently turned his 
attention to farming, in which he is still engaged, be- 
sides being a practical surveyor and lumberman. He 
has held the office of Town Superintendent and Super- 
visor where he resides, and has thus far proven him- 
self a reliable and industrious member of the Assem- 
bly. He is an ardent friend of free schools and edu- 
cation; was formerly a Democrat of strong Free Soil 
tendencies; and is now a zealous Republican. He 
was married in 1845, to Miss Adaline, youngest 
daughter of the late Henry Oakley, and attends the 
Methodist church. To say the least, he is a promis- 
ing young man. 



CHARLES H. ADAMS. 

Mr. Adams was born at Coxsackie, Greene county, 
N. Y., on the 10th of April, 1824. His maternal 
grand-father, Anthony Egberts, held the position of 
Paymaster in the Revolutionary war, and his father. 
Dr. Henry Adams, who died some years ago at Co- 
hoes, in Albany county, was a surgeon in the war of 
1812, and was enajaged, in his official duties, at the 
battle of Sackett's Harbor. Mr. Adams received a 
classical education, and was admitted to the bar in 
1845. He practiced law some three years in Albany 
and New York, and then turned his attention to 
manufacturing, in which he is still engaged, carry- 
ing on one of the largest hosiery mills at Cohoes, in the 
United States. He has had some experience in mili- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 137 

tary affairs, and was an active member of Gov, 
Hunt's staff, with the rank of Colonel. He was a 
delegate to the National American Convention at 
Philadelphia in 1855, and was an ardent advocate of 
Mr. Fillmore's nomination for the Presidency. He 
was, also, a delegate to the American State Conven- 
tion in 1857, where he aided, as one of the Vice 
Presidents of the Convention, in the selection of the 
strongest ticket ever presented to the people by the 
American party. He was elected to the present 
House by a combination of Republicans and Ameri- 
cans, and during the late contest for Speaker steadily 
refused, under all circumstances, to vote for any of 
the Democratic candidates. He was formerly a 
Whig, and has always been a warm advocate of 
American measures since the first organization of 
that party. He is married ; makes a good practical 
legislator; and attends the Dutch Reformed church. 



C. W. ARMSTRONG. 

Mr. Armstrong is of Yankee and Scotch descent, 
and was born in 1827, in Hooosick, Rensselaer county, 
N. Y. He received a liberal common school educa- 
tion, and at the age of sixteen became a clerk in Penn 
Yan, Yates county, where he spent about four years, 
and then went into Wayne county, w^here his father, 
Alvin Armstrong, still resides. Subsequently he 
located in the city of Albany, where he has been en- 
gaged in the produce commission business, and where 



138 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

he now resides. He has always been a staunch, un- 
compromising Democrat of the Hard ShelJ school, and 
never held any public office previous to his election to 
the present Legislature. He is an active, shrewd 
business man; one of the recognized leaders of the 
Democracy in the House; rather prepossessing in his 
personal appearance, being tall, slender, and well- 
proportioned, with dark hair, light blue eyes, and a 
heavy mustache. He is kind and courteous; neat and 
stylish about his person, and is still unmarried, though 
very desirous of kneeling at the hymenial altar. 



R. F. AUSTIN, 

Mr. Austin is a native of Dexter, Jefferson county, 
N. Y., and was born on the 27th of September, 1827. 
He is a son of William Austin, and is of English and 
Irish descent. He was educated in a common school, 
and has always since been engaged in the mercantile 
trade in Three Mile Bay, in his native county, where 
he now resides. He has been Clerk in that town and 
was Postmaster from 1853 till 1854, when he resigned 
because he could not support *' Pierce, Kansas and 
Nebraska." He was formerly a radical Free Soil 
Democrat, and has acted with the Republican party 
since its organization. In 1850 he married Miss 
Anna D., daughter of Daniel J. Schuyler, and attends 
the Baptist church. He is a good speaker; is quite as 
well calculated for the stump as a deliberative body; 
always addresses the House with earnestness and 



UIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 139 

ability; is an active, correct business man; discharges 
his duties with tact and ability ; enjoys a high degree of 
personal popularity; and was elected to the Assembly 
by nearly four hundred majority. 



AMOS AVERY. 

Mr. Avery was named after his father, who died in 
1818, in Charlemont, Franklin county, Mass., where 
the subject of this sketch was born in 1807. His 
grand-father distinguished himself in the Indian wars, 
and one of his uncles was among the six Averys who 
fell in the memorable struggle at Fort Griswold, Conn. 
"With the exception of one term, which he spent at an 
academy, Mr, Avery received all his education in a 
common school. He was brought up a blacksmith, 
and has been engaged in the manufacture of edged 
tools, augers, &c., ever since the expiration of his 
apprenticeship. He removed into New York in 1825, 
and is now one of the best business men in Evans, 
Erie county. He has also paid some attention to the 
law, and although always pretty successful in the 
practice, has secured the reputation of being an ad- 
mirable peace- maker. Besides other town offices, he 
has held that of Justice of the Peace two consecutive 
terms, and has also at the same time been Collector. 
He voted for Gen. Jackson in 1828; supported Wm. 
Wirt in 1832; and, with rare exceptions, has ever 
since opposed the so-called Democratic party. He 
was married in 1836 to Miss Julia Bundy, and belongs 
to the Congregational -church. 



140 BIOGRAPRICAL SKETCHES. 



GEORGE BABBITT. 

Mr. Babbitt was born in 1818, in Rodman, Jefferson 
county, N. Y., and" has always since resided in that 
county, with the exception of three years which he 
spent in Oneida county, and about two that he passed 
on the Plains and in California. He is of English 
descent, and a son of Deodatus Babbitt, a native of 
Massachusetts, who died in 1828. He received a com- 
mon school education, and at the age of fourteen was 
apprenticed to the saddle and harness trade in Water- 
town, where he spent about three years and a half, 
and then completed his apprenticeship at Utica. 'In 
1839 he commenced business for himself in the village 
of Smithville, where he has since resided. He has 
also a branch establishment in Marysville, California, 
and is engaged somewhat in farming. He has held 
various town and'village offices; was appointed under- 
sheriff in 1850, which he afterwards resigned; and in 
1853 received the appointment of Inspector of Cus- 
toms. He has also been Postmaster six years, and in 
every position to which he has been called has dis- 
charged his duties in a creditable and satisfactory 
manner. He was married in 1845 to Miss Harriet A. , 
daughter of the Hon. Elihu McNeil, and belongs to the 
Congregational church. He is a thorough, practical 
business man; a staunch, unyielding Republican, and 
a good representative. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 141 



I) WIGHT BAG HELLER. 

Mr. Bacheller was born in Worcester county, Mass., 
in 1804, and at the age of twenty-one removed to the 
city of Albany, where he resided till 1829, when he 
commenced a traveling tour which extended through 
the southern portion of the United States, Mexico, 
South America and the West India Islands, In 1831 
he returned to Albany county, and has always since 
resided in that county and the city of Albany, where 
he is now engaged in the mercantile trade. He held 
several responsible offices previous to his election to 
his present position, and never failed to discharge the 
duties devolving upon him with credit to himself 
and entire satisfaction to his constituents. He was 
formerly an old line Democrat, but early joined the 
American party, and has always since been a warm, 
ardent, consistent and uncompromising advocate of its 
principles. His nomination by that party for the pre- 
sent Assembly was endorsed by the Republicans of 
his district, who had no hope of electing a candidate 
of their own; but notwithstanding such endorsement, 
he was elected as a genuine, unadulterated American. 
Unlike most men he is actuated in his political con- 
duct exclusively by a desire to advance the principles 
of his party and what he esteems the consequent good 
of the country. He is not a talking man, but does a 
large share of sound thinking, and will doubtless leave 
a clean, honest and consistent record behind him at 
the end of the session, 



142 BIOGRAPHICAL SK-ETCHES. 

HEZEKIAH BAKER. 

Mr. Baker was born on the 18th of October, 1819, 
at Amsterdam, Montgomery countj% N. Y., and is of 
English and Welsh descent. His father emigrated 
from Rhode Island to New York about the year 1796, 
and settled in Rensselaer county, from whence he 
went into Montgomery county. His parents being 
poor and having a large family to support, Mr. Baker 
was placed, at an early age, in care of an uncle, 
residing at Hagerman's mills, wifti whom he lived 
some five years, attending a common school about 
two months each winter. He then ran away from 
his uncle and employed himself on a farm, at stipu- 
lated wages, during about two years, at the end of 
which time he worked nearly three years at the shoe- 
making trade, and then began the study of the higher 
English branches. Having pursued his studies some 
time, he taught school till 1842, filling up his vaca- 
tions by studying the classics, the higher branches of 
mathematics, and mental, moral, and natural philoso- 
phy. He subsequently studied law in the office of 
Judge Mclntyre, in Johnstown, Fulton county, about 
three years, and was then elected Justice of the Peace, 
to fill a vacancy of some two years. He was admitted 
to the bar of the Supreme court in 1846, and has 
always since been an active and successful practi- 
tioner. In 1847 he removed from Johnstown to St. 
Johnsviile, Montgomery county, where he now re- 
sides. 

Mr. Baker commenced his political career in 1853, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 143 

when he was elected to the Assembly, where he dis- 
tinguished himself by his opposition to the Maine 
liquor law. He was again elected in 1855, and dur- 
ing the session that followed renewed his opposition 
to the Liquor law, and contributed much to the suc- 
cess of Mr. Seward as a candidate for United States 
Senator. He was re-elected in 1856 and again in 
1857, discharging his duties, at all times, with 
industry and ability. He was a staunch Whig till 
the repeal of the Missouri compromise, when he 
became a Republican. He has but little ambition for 
political preferment, and shrinks, from public display 
or notoriety. He is a man of indomitable perseve- 
rance; loves equity and justice; shrinks from no 
labor or sacrifice, imposed upon him by duty; always 
sympathizes with the oppressed and defenseless; and 
has an utter detestation of an enemy who will evade a 
fair, substantial issue. He believes in the Bible; is 
a bachelor; and is fond of children. 



D. B. BALDWIN. 

Mr. Baldwin is a native of Brutus, Cayuga county, 
N. Y., where he was born in 1820. He is of Eng- 
lish descent. His father, Andrew Baldwin, a native 
of Connecticut, died when he was only about three 
months old, and both his paternal and maternal 
grand-fathers. Major Baldwin and Col. Boardman, 
were soldiers in the Revolution. Mr. B. received a 
common school and academical education, and at the 



144 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

age of eighteen went on to a farm, which he culti- 
vated six years. He then embarked in the grocery 
and forwarding business, which he followed about 
five years, when his wife died, and he entirely aban- 
doned business some . two years, after which he 
engaged in the lumber trade, and has pursued it ever 
since. He never held any public position before his 
election to the seat he now occupies, but has never- 
theless proven himself a sound, practical man and a 
safe legislator. He was formerly a Free Soil Whig, 
and is now a zealous Republican. He married two 
sisters, daughters of Archibald Ward, and has been a 
widower above three years. He attends the Presby- 
terian church and stands high in the community 
where he resides. 



W M . BALDWIN. 

Mr. Baldwin was born in Halfmoon, now Clifton 
Park, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1811. He is par- 
tially of English, Scotch, and German descent, and 
his parents, who are now dead, were both from 
Dutchess county. He received a common school 
education and was a practical farmer until he was 
twenty-eight years of age. He has, also, been some- 
what engaged in farming since then. His parents 
removed to Ballston when he was quite young, and 
from thence to Halfmoon, where he lived some ten 
years after his father's death. He then went' to 
Crescent village, and in 1839 lemoved to Allegany 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 145 

county, where he remained till 1844, when he went 
into Livingston county. In 1848 he removed to 
Oneida county; in 1849 to the village of Fulton, 
Oswego county; and in 1852 to the city of Oswego, 
where he now resides. Since he quit farming he has 
been a large contractor, operating more extensively, 
perhaps, than any other man in the employment of 
the State, and is still so engaged, besides being largely 
interested in shipping on the lakes. He never held 
any public office till his election to the present legis- 
lature. He has always been a Democrat of the 
"Hardest" kind, and is a zealous party man. He 
attends the Episcopal church, and in 1834 married 
Miss Phoebe, daughter of James Ostrander, of Saratoga 
county, who is now dead, and by whom he had two 
daughters and five sons. 



WASHINGTON BARNES. 

Mr. Barnes was born on the 25th of March, 1809, 
in that part of Windsor, now called Colesville, Broome 
county, N. Y., and is descended from Puritan stock. 
Both his paternal and maternal grand-fathers emigrated 
from Connecticut to that comity, towards the close of 
the last century, the former settling on the Susque- 
hanna, and the latter on what is still locally known as 
" The Hill." They were soldiers in the Revolution, 
and his maternal grand-father, Nathaniel Cole, who 
held a commission in the army, shared all the hard- 
ships and sufferings of the retreat from Long Island. 
13 



146 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mr. Barnes received a common school education, and 
taught from the age of sixteen until he was about 
twenty-one, when he spent thirteen weeks in the 
Franklin Academy. He worked on his father's farm, 
devoting a portion of his time to the carpenter's trade, 
until he was about twenty-one, when he removed to 
Steuben county. He then worked as a journeyman 
carpenter till his health failed, when he became a 
clerk in a dry good store, where he remained a short 
time, and then became a student in the law office of 
Messrs. Cotton & Johnson, at Painted Post, where he 
remained till 1836, when he was admitted to practice 
in the county courts. He was admitted to the bar of 
the Supreme court in 1840, and has ever since been 
an industrious and successful lawyer. He never held 
any prominent public position until he became a mem- 
ber of the present Assembly, preferring to devote his 
whole time and attention to his own private business. 
He has belonged to the successive political parties 
through which the Republican organization traces its 
descent, and is unyieldingly and forever opposed to 
the further extension of slavery. In 1836 he was 
married to the youngest daughter of the Hon. John 
Knox, of Steuben county, who died in 1839, and in 
1842 married his present estimable lady, the youngest 
daughter of Maurice Birdsall, of Chenango county. 
He attends the Episcopal church, and is quite liberal 
in all his religious views. He is an honest and in- 
dustrious man, and a sound representative. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 147 



MOSES S. BEACH. 

Mr. Beach is a native of Springfield, Mass., and is 
the son of Moses Y. Beach, who was sole pro- 
prietor and editor of the New York Daily Sun, from, 
1835 until 1845. He was born on the 5th of October, 
1822* His ancestors were English, and were among 
the earliest settlers of New England. His paternal 
grand-mother was descended from the founder of Yale 
college, and his maternal grand-mother from Elder 
Wm. Brewster, one of the Pilgrim fathers. At the 
age of eleven Mr. Beach was sent to school at Monson, 
Mass., where he spent nearly seven years, when his 
sight failing him he was obliged to abandon his studies 
and return home. He was then occupied in his father's 
establishment, with exceptionable periods of absence, 
until 1845. In 1840 he went to France, where 
he spent nearly a year in learning the French Ian* 
guage at an institution near Paris. On his return to 
the United States he resumed occupation in his father's 
office, devoting a portion of his time to the perfection 
of a printing press which was afterwards superseded 
by Hoe's patent. 'In 1845 he purchased one-half in- 
terest in the Boston Daily Times, which he success^ 
fully conducted till the fall of the same year, when he 
married Miss Chloe Buckingham, of Waterto wn, 
Conn., and soon afterward returned to the city of New 
York, where he was admitted, with his brother, to an 
interest in his father's establishment. In 1848 he 
and his brother Alfred, took exclusive charge of the 



148 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

concern, and in 1852 he purchased his brother's inte- 
rest, and has since been sole editor and proprietor of 
the paper. He never held any public office until his 
election to* the seat he now fills. He is a liberal 
Democrat, and has never been strictly a politician. 
He has resided in Brooklyn since 1854, and attends 
Dr. Beecher's church. He is one of the shreu'dest, 
most active and industrious members in the House, 
and is emphaticall}^ a gentleman in every respect. 



ISAAC BECKER. 

Mr. Becker was born on the 23d of June, 1818, in 
Cortright, Delaware county, N. Y. His ancestors 
came from Holland, and his father, Peter J. Becker, 
is still living in that county. He received only a 
common schooling, and being the only son at home, 
and his father's health being poor, was obliged to 
take charge of the farm, on which the family were 
living, at a comparatively early age. At the age of 
twenty-eight he purchased the place, and cultivated 
it six years, when he removed to Ulster county, where 
he has always since been engaged in farming. He 
has had some experience as a military man, having 
arisen as high as a Captaincy, and in 1855 was elect- 
ed a Justice of the Peace. He was elected to the 
Assembly by a flattering vote, and has proven himself 
a faithful and consistent representative. He was 
never a partisan until the organization of the Ameri- 
can party, to which he has since adhered with the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 149 

most unrelenting and patriotic tenacity. He was 
married in 1846 to Miss Elizabeth Pollock, of Sing 
Sing, and attends the Dutch Reformed Church. 



ALFRED BELL. 

Mr. Bell was born in New Hampshire, in 1810, and 
is of Irish descent. His parents removed to Alle- 
gany county, N. Y., in 1827, where they are both 
still living. He received a common school education, 
and was raised on his father's farm. At the age of 
twenty-one he became a clerk in a dry good store, and 
in 1838 engaged in business for himself, in Livingston 
county. After eight years' experience as a merchant, 
he tried his hand in the furnace and machine business, 
which, after four years' trial, he exchanged for 
farming and lumbering, in which he is still engaged. 
His first vote for President was cast for Gen. Jackson, 
and his next and last for Col. Fremont. He never 
filled any important public position until 1856, when 
he was elected to the Assembly, where he was Chair- 
man of the standing committee on Charitable and 
Religious Societies. He was again elected to the seat 
he now occupies, in 1857. He was married in 1831, 
to Miss Juliet Dibble, of Monroe county, and attends 
the Presbyterian church. He is an unwavering Re- 
publican; a quiet, gentlemanly man; and a bell that 
has the ring of true metal, though without a noisy 
tongue. "* 



150 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



GEORGE W. BLEECKER. 

Mr. Bleecker was born in the city of New York, on 
the 1st of January, 1800, and is, therefore, literally 
one of the first men of the age. He is the son of a 
Revolutionary sire, Leonard Bleecker, who was an 
intimate personal friend of Gen. Washington, and a 
descendant of Jan Jansen Bleecker, the only indivi- 
dual of the name who is known to have come to 
America, and who was born in 1641, at Meppel, near 
the province of Overyssel, in the Netherlands. He 
arrived at New York in 1658, and at Albany the same 
year, and was Mayor of the latter place, in 1700. He 
died in 1732, and his descendants are now numerous, 
and reside chiefly in Albany and New York. Mr. 
Bleecker received a classical education, and at the age 
of twenty entered the United States navy, as* Midship- 
man, which position he resigned at the end of five 
years, and embarked in the publishing and book busi- 
ness in his native city. In 1833 he turned his atten- 
tion to teaching, which he pursued as Principal of 
private female seminaries, at different points, until 
1844, and during that period educated over fourteen 
hundred females, from all sections of the country. He 
subsequently held a position in the Appraiser's de- 
partment, in the Custom house, seven years, as an 
Examiner, and was afterwards Inspector in the Col- 
Jector's department, until the 5th of January, 1858, 
when he resigned and took his seat in the present le- 
gislature. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 151 

Mr. Bleecker was married in 1821, to Miss Phebe 
S. Jordan, who died in 1826, and in 1827, married his 
present lady. Miss Ann Eliza Watson. He is an ex- 
emplary member of the Baptist church; is deeply in- 
terested in Sabbath schools, and all other religious 
and benevolent enterprises ; and has been several years 
Secretary of the New York Sunday School Teachers' 
association. He has always been a consistent, con- 
servative Democrat; is a. quiet, industrious and influ- 
ential representative; and is deservedly popular at 
home and abroad. 



HENRY BLISS. 

No man in the House, probably, has a finer and 
more healthy appearance, or enjoys a higher degree of 
personal popularity than Mr. Bliss. He is a native 
of Addison co., Vt., and was born, in 1827. He is of 
English, Scotch, Dutch, and French descent. His 
paternal ancestors settled in Massachusetts, and his 
mother's family in New Jersey. His father removed 
to Vermont about the year. 1814, and thence to Chau- 
tauque co., N. Y., where he now resides. Mr. Bliss 
received an academical education, and at the age of 
eighteen turned his attention to teaching which he 
followed about ten years in Penns;flvania, Kentucky, 
and the town where he now lives. He has been Town 
Superintendent, and is now Justice of the Peace. He 
was elected to the present House, by a majority of 
nearly five hundred over the American candidate, 
upon whom the Democratic and American strength 



152 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was united. He was formerly a Woolly-Head Whig, 
and was a delegate to the Anti-Nebraska state con- 
vention at Saratoga, in 1854, since which time he has 
been a zealous Republican. He is a sterling tempe- 
rance man ; and a reliable legislator. 



CHAUNCEY BOUGHTON. 

Dr. Boughtonwasborn, on the 21st of January, 1805, 
in Nassau, Rensselaer co., N. Y. His ancestors were 
from Connecticut, and his father, who died, in 1831, 
was a native of Westchester co., and a commissioned 
officer in the Revolution. His wife, the mother of 
the subject of this sketch, was from Fishkill, N. Y., 
and died when near seventy years of age. Dr. Bough- 
ton received most of his education in his native 
village, and at the age of sixteen, commenced the 
study of medicine, in Saratoga county, going to school 
and teaching at intervals, until he was twenty-one, 
when he attended his first course of lectures at Fair- 
field, Herkimer county. Subsequently he began to 
practice in Saratoga as a partner of Dr. Shaw, his 
brother-in-law, and former preceptor, whose entire 
office and practice he purchased about a year after- 
wards. In 1833, -he attended lectures in Philadelphia 
and New York, and returning to Saratoga, the same 
year, resumed the practice, which he followed steadily 
until about five years ago, when he turned his atten- 
tion to farming. His career as a physician has been 
eminent and successful, and within the last quarter of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 153 

a century he has traveled, on an average, in his 
practice, over twenty thousand miles a year. He has 
held various town offices, including that of Supervisor, 
and was a member of the Assembly in 1846. He was 
elected to his present position by a union of Ameri- 
cans and Republicans, but is closely attached to Ameri- 
can principles. He was formerly a Free Soil Whig, 
and has alwjays been an active politician. He was 
married, in 1827, to Miss Ida J. Smith, a native of 
Vermont, by whom he has three children; and attends 
the Baptist church. 



NATHAN BOUT ON. 

Mr. Bouton resides in Virgil, Cortland county, 
N. Y., where he was born in 1802. His ancestors 
were among the earliest settlers in New England, 
and his grand-father was a Revolutionary soldier. 
His father, who was a native of Westchester county, 
N. Y., died in 1847, and his mother, who was born 
in Connecticut, died in 1805. It was Mr. Bouton 
who wrote, at the dictation of .his father, in Feb- 
ruary, 1828, the first newspaper article that ever 
appeared in public on the subject of the New York & 
Erie rail-road. He received only a common school 
education, but has been a successful practical sur- 
veyor since the age of twenty. When about this age 
he commenced farming for himself a short distance 
from home, where he remained till about ten years 
since, when at his father's death he purchased the 



154 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

old homestead, on which he now lives. He held 
various town offices previous to his election to his 
present position, and has always been a quiet and 
influential man in the community where he resides. 
He is a zealous advocate of temperance, and all other 
moral and religious reforms; was formerly a Whig; 
then a member of the Liberty party; and is now a 
confirmed believer in the Republican faith. He has 
delivered numerous interesting addresses on the sub- 
ject of agriculture, and has been three years president 
of the agricultural society in the town where he re- 
sides. He has, also, considerable literary taste, and 
has written an interesting history of his native town. 
He was married to his present wife, Miss Emma 
Hubbard, in 1846, and has been a very worthy mem- 
ber of the Congregational church since 1822. 



WILLIAM BRIGGS. 

Mr. Briggs was born in 1808, in Lisbon, St. Law- 
rence county, N. Y., where he has always since 
resided. He is of E;iglish descent. His father, who 
died in 1832, was among the earliest settlers in the 
valley of the St. Lawrence, and his oldest brother, 
the first white male child born in the county. His 
father was born in Dutchess county, from whence he 
removed to Schenectady county, and his mother was 
a sister of the father of Benjamin Tibbetts, of Albany. 
After his mother's death, his father, who was a com- 
missioned officer in the war of 1812, fearing to leave 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 155 

his children exposed, in his absence, to the enemy, 
placed them all in an ox cart under the care of a 
trusty Frenchman who took them in that way to 
Schenectady county, where they were distributed 
among their relatives until the close of the war, 
when they returned to St. Lawrence county. Mr. 
Briggs received a common English education, and at 
the age of twenty spent about eight months as a clerk 
in a store, when his health failing, he returned home 
and remained on the farm till his father's death. 
The farm was then divided among the chidren, after 
a protracted law suit in which the title to it was 
closely contested, he taking charge of that portion 
assigned him, which he has always since cultivated, 
employing himself during the winter until 1838 by 
teaching. He has held consecutively the office of 
School Commissioner, Town Superintendent and 
Supervisor, and was elected to his present position by 
nearly a thousand majority. He was formerly a Free 
Soil Whig; is strongly anti-slavery in his views; and 
was among the first to take part in the organization 
of the Republican party. He was married to his 
present wife, Mrs. Ann Bosworth, in 1854, and is a 
member of the Congregational church. 



WILLIAM BUFFINGTON. 

Mr. Buffington was born in 1817, in Cambridge, 
Washington county, N. Y., and is of English and 
Scotch descent. His parents were natives of Massa- 



156 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

chusetts, from whence they removed to Maine, and 
thence to Washington county. In 1818 they went 
into Onondaga county, and in 1826 settled in Catta- 
raugus county, where the subject of this sketch now 
resides. Both his parents are now dead. Mr. B. 
received a common English education, and engaged 
in farming from the age of twenty till the opening of 
the New York and Erie rail-road, when he built a 
hotel where the village of Cattaraugus now stands, 
which he still keeps. He has held various town 
offices including that of Supervisor, and was elected 
to his present position by a handsome vote. He was 
formerly a Free Soil Whig; was among the first to 
enlist in the Republican movement; is an active and 
decided partisan, often taking the stump in support 
of the principles of his party; an uncompromising 
Temperance man ; and never drank a glass of liquor 
in his life. He was married to his present, worthy 
wife, Miss Eleanor Ballard, in 1850; is a believer in 
the Calvanistic Baptist doctrine; and a useful man. 



LESTER M. CASE, 

Mr. Case is a native of Nelson, Madison county, 
N. Y., and was born in 1819. He is descended from 
English stock, and his parents came from Connecticut 
to New York about sixty years ago. His father is 
dead, and his mother still living, at the age of seventy. 
He completed his education at the Cortland academy, 
under the tuition of Prof. Woolworth, now secretary 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 157 

of the Board of Regents of the Universit}-, and has 
been a farmer ever since. He was married in 1845 
to Miss Huldah, daughter of Judge Talcott Backus, 
and usually attends the Presbyterian and Baptist 
churches. He never held any public office till his 
election to this legislature; was formerly a Free Soil 
Whig, and early identified himself with the Republican 
movement. He is a quiel, industrious and influential 
politician; a reliable and attentive legislator; and a 
man whose conduct is always based on principle. 



JOHN W INT HROP CHANLER. 

Mr. Chanler is a young man, in the morning of 
life, and one of the most industrious and useful mem- 
bers on the floor of the House. He is the son of an 
Episcopal clergyman, and was born in 1827, in the 
city of New York. He is a descendant of John Win- 
throp, the first governor of Massachusetts, and Petrus- 
Stuyvesant, the last director-gen-eral of New Nether- 
lands, now New York. His father, Dr. Isaac Chanler, 
who served as a volunteer on the medical staff during 
the Revolution, and who died in 1853, was a native of 
Charleston, S. C, to which place his father emigrated 
in 1733, from Bristol, England. Mr. Chanler re- 
ceived the rudiments of his education in Connecticut 
and Troy, N. Y., and graduated at Columbia college, 
as valedictorian of his class, in 1847. In the fall of 
the same year he sailed for Europe, and entered the 
14 



158 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

law and philosophical department of the University of 
Berlin. When the government closed the institution, 
at the breaking out of the revolution in 1848, he 
commenced a traveling tour through Europe; attend- 
ed lectures at the University of Sorbonne, Paris; 
and after an absence of a year, returned to the uni- 
versity at Berlin, which had then been reopened. 
After an absence of some three years, he returned to 
New York city, and entered the law office of Edgar 
S. Van Winkle. He was admitted to the bar in 
1851, and has since been actively engaged in practice. 
He never held any public position before his election 
to the present Assembly, and has always been a 
staunch, fearless Democrat of the national, conserva- 
tive school. He is still single ; attends the Episcopal 
church ; and is probably the most promising young 
man in the House. 



DAVID 1. CHATFIELD. 

Mr. Chatfield was born in the city of New York, 
in 1817, and is of English and Holland extraction. 
His parents died when he was quite young, and at 
the age of five he was placed in the old Orphan 
asylum in his native city, where he remained till he 
was twelve years old, when he was bound out to a 
physician in Orange county, with whom he stayed 
about eighteen months, and then returned to the 
city. After working at the manufacture of willow 
baskets about a year he entered the law office of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 119 

Daniel B. Talmadge, who was subsequently Judge of 
the Superior court, and was admitted to the bar in 
1839. He was a member of the House in 1847, and. 
was elected to the present Assembly by a majority 
of nearly eight hundred over the combined American 
and Republican vote in his district. He is a reliable 
Democrat of the national stamp; is married; has a 
pleasant exterior; and represents his constituents 
truly and faithfully. 



DAVID M. CHAUNCEY. 

Mr. Chauncey hails from the city of Brooklyn, and 
was elected to the seat he now occupies by upwards 
of twelve hundred majority over the combined Ame- 
rican and Republican forces. Early in 1849 he went 
to California, where he amassed an independent for- 
tune, and was the first State and County Assessor of 
San Francisco. In 1852 he was elected from that 
city to the legislature, and after the adjournment of 
that body returned to New York, where he spent a 
year and then returned to California where he passed 
another j^ear, and finally settled in the city of Brook- 
lyn. He is an industrious, influential, correct, wide- 
awake business man, and is now operating in various 
financial enterprises in Wall street in the city of 
New York. He is a frank, fearless, clever, inde- 
pendent, open-hearted, and whole-soul feUow; a 
liberal and zealous Democrat, of the conservative 
school; and discharges his legislative duties with 



160 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

credit to himself and fidelity to his constituents. He 
is upwards of thirty years of age; still single; and 
-has a neat, genteel, manly personal appearance. 



NOAH A. CHILDS. 

Mr. Childs is one of the most quiet, unostenta- 
tious, and laborious men in the House, and com- 
^mands a large amount of influence in the social and 
political circles in which he moves. He hails from the 
Green Mountain State, and was born in Bakersville, 
Fairfield county, in that State, in December 1810. 
He is of English descent, and his father, who is a 
native of Massachusetts, is still living at that place. 
Col. Childs who distinguished himself in the Mexi- 
can war, is a relative of his, as are also Daniel Lee 
Childs, of Boston, and Marcus Childs, of Canada 
West, who was a member of Parliament for some 
years previous to the Revolution of 1838. He is 
likewise, a brother of Thomas Childs, Jr., who was a 
•member of Congress in 1835. He was brought up in 
a dense, uncultivated forest; received scarcely any 
educational advantages; and at the ago of twenty- 
three spent a short time in Boston, after which he 
married Miss Lucia A. Fuller, and removed to the 
city of New York, where he engaged in the milk busi- 
ness. Having followed this about ten years he spent 
some twelve years in distilling, when he again sold 
out, and has since been exclusively engaged in travel- 
ing. He never held any public office before his elec- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 161 

tion to the present House, and has always been an 
unfalterhig Democrat, never refusing to contribute 
liberally from his time and means for the advance- 
ment of Democratic principles. He attends the 
Congregational church, and has probably been more 
generous in his contributions to religious and benevo- 
lent objects than any other man in the community 
where he resides. 



ELIHU C. CHURCH. 

Mr. Church was born in 1803, in Sutton, Worces- 
ter county, 'Mass., and is a lineal descendant of Major 
John Church, who is so well known in the history of 
King Philip's war. His father, who was a native of 
East Hadham, Conn., and who served through the 
Revolution, acting, part of the time, as private secre- 
tary to Gen. La Fayette, emigrated to Jefferson co., 
N. Y., in 1805, and died in 1831, at the age of seven- 
ty-six. Mr. Church's educational advantages were 
very limited, though he was qualified, at the age of 
twenty, to take charge of a common school, which he 
taught, during the winter, until he was twenty-eight. 
He has been a constant and close reader of news- 
papers since the age of fourteen, and has thus made 
himself master of the English language. At the age 
of fifteen he went to the manufacturing trade, which 
he followed till 1835, since which time he has been 
engaged in farming. In 1827 he married Miss Emily 
Makepeace, a most admirable lady, by whom he has 



162 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

three daughters and seven sons. He is a member of 
the Methodist church, and two of his sons are mini- 
sters. He has held various town offices, and was a 
member of the House in 1842 and '43, and was again 
elected to the seat he now occupies. Although now 
acting wuth the Republican party,, he has always been 
what he esteems a genuine Democrat, and is bitter in 
his hostility to the accursed vice of intemperance. 
He is distinguished, both in public and private life, 
for his uprightness, honesty and integrity, and faith- 
fully discharges his representative duties. 



HOMER COLLINS. 

Mr. Collins is a native of Meriden, Conn. He was 
born on the 15th of May, 1789, and is the oldest 
member of the Hous^. He is descended from Puritan 
stock, and his paternal ancestors came from England 
in 1630, and settled in Boston. His father, who was 
a Revolutionary soldier, and a native of Connecticut, 
settled, in 1797, in Lewis county, N. Y., where the 
subject of this sketch has since resided. Mr. Collins 
was educated at the Fairfield academy, in Herkimer 
county, and at the age of twenty enlisted in the regu- 
lar army as a member of the 29th Regiment, in which 
he served a year and returned home. In 1819 he 
married Miss Lucy Phelps, and engaged in farming, 
which has chiefly been his occupation ever since. At 
the close of the war of 1812 he became Captain of an 
independent company of artillery, and was subse- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 163 

quently elected Major. He has held various town 
offices where he resides, including that of Justice of 
the Peace and Supervisor, and in 1822 was appointed 
side Judge in Lewis county. He was, also, in 1820, 
deputy Census Marshal, and took the census in that 
county. He is an old-fashioned Democrat of the Jef- 
fersonian school ; in 1848 supported Mr. Van Buren 
for the Presidency; and is an active and zealous Re- 
publican. He is an incorruptible legislator, and an 
exemplary man._ 



WILLIAM COPPERNOLL. 

Mr. Coppernoll was born in 1812, in Norway, Her- 
kimer county, N. Y. He now resides in the town of 
Ohio, where he located about thirty years ago. He 
is of Holland and German descent, and his parents, 
who are still living, emigrated from Montgomery 
county to Herkimer about fifty years* ago. His grand- 
father served through the Revolution and drew a 
pension, after the war, till the time of his death. 
Mr. C. received a common school education, and 
worked at the carpenter's trade from the age of fifteen 
until about six years ago, since which time he has 
been a Justice of the Peace. He has held several 
other town offices, and arose from a private to the 
post of Colonel in the 4th Brigade of the 12th Regi- 
ment of riflemen. He was formerly a Democrat, and 
is now a zealous Republican. In 1832 he married 
Miss D. M. Ash, and attends the Methodist and 
Presbyterian churches. He is a worthy man. 



164 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



DUNHAM J. GRAIN. 

Mr. Grain was born in 1831, and is, therefore, 
one of the younge&t members in the House, He is 
a native of Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y., and a 
son of Hon. Wm. G. Grain, who was speaker of the 
Assembly in 1846, and who was the author of the 
law authorizing the call of a Gonstitutional conven- 
tion, in that year. He sprung from substantial Re- 
volutionary stock, and is a lineal descendant of old 
Israel Putnam. He was prepared for college at Ox- 
ford, Ghenango county, and graduated at "Old Union," 
in 1850, after which he entered the law office of 
Richard Gooper, of Gooperstown, completing his 
studies with the Hon. B. F. Butler, in the city of 
New York, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He 
immediately began to practice, and is now doing an 
extensive and lucrative business in New York, as one 
of the firm of Stewart, Slallknecht & Grain. He 
never held any public position till his election to the 
present Assembly, and has always been a sound, un- 
yielding Democrat, after the fashion of his father. He 
is a permanent and influential contributor to the 
Herkimer Gounty Democrat; a pleasant, sociable, 
free-hearted and energetic young man; and possesses, 
in an eminent degree, all those manly attributes, which 
never fail to make good friends. He is a member of 
the Episcopal church; still single; and the ladies say, 
very good looking! 



BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 165 



JOHN A. DAYTON. 

Mr. Dayton is a native of Washington county, N. Y., 
and is fifty-two years of age. He is a lineal descend- 
ant of Ralph Dayton, one of the Pilgrim fathers, who 
came over in the Mayflower, in 1620. He commenced 
business as a merchant, in the city of New York, 
about thirty years ago, and now resides in Brooklyn. 
He has always been a tenacious Democrat, of the con- 
servative, national stamp, and is one of the most at- 
tentive, industrious and incorruptible members of the 
House. He is a good legislator; understands perfectly 
the modus operandi by which laws sliould be enacted, 
and was successful in preventing many a violation of 
parliamentary law, during the late disorganization of 
the Assembly. He is kind courteous, and affable in 
his manner; and enjoys a wide circle of warm personal 
and political friends. 



ARTHUR J. DELANEY. 

Mr. Delaney was born in the city of New York, in 
1831, and is therefore one of the youngest members 
in the House. He is of Irish descent, and the son of 
John Delaney, who died in 1853. His education 
which he received in the common and select schools 
of his native city, was very defective, but he subse- 
quently schooled himself and is now a good, practical, 
business scholar. He is still an active member of a 
debating society, which he joined some years ago, and 



166 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

has succeeded in making himself a ready, fluent and 
forcible speaker. He was educated to no particular * 
occupation, but now claims to be a practical brick- 
layer. He never held any public office before his 
election to the present Assembly, and has always 
been a sound National Democrat. He is still unmar- 
ried; belongs to the Catholic church; and acknow- 
ledges Rome as the principal seat of the church. He 
is personally quite popular, and was elected to his 
present position by nearly one thousand majority. 
He is modest and unassuming, yet bold and unrelent- 
ing, and no one in the House excels him in industry, 
being seldom absent from his seat, whether the House 
is in or out of session. It is in some respects a 
national misfortune that the country can not boast of 
more young men like Mr. Delaney. 



•H. B. DURYEA. 

Gen. Duryea was born in Newtown, Queens county, 
N. Y., on the 12th of July, 1815, and is of French 
Huguenot and Dutch descent. His ancestors were 
among the first settlers on Long Island, where his 
parents were both born. He studied law in the office 
of Judge Greenwood, in the city of New York, who 
was subsequently his law partner. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1836, and immediately commenced 
practicing in Brooklyn, where he is still engaged in 
his profession. He became commander of the Fifth 
Brigade of the uniformed militia of the state, located 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 167 

in the county of Kings, in 1848, which position he 
now holds. He was appointed Supremo Court Com- 
missioner, under Gov. Seward, in 1842; subsequently 
attorney to the corporation of Brooklyn; and was 
District Attorney of Kings county from 1848 till 
1854. He never held any legislative position until 
he became a member of the present Legislature, and 
was always in politics a Whig, until the repeal of the 
Missouri Compromise, when he became an active 
and ardent Republican. 



GARRETT D Y C K M A N . 

Lieut. Col. Dyckman, the gallant and worthy 
recipient of the award of Gen. Jackson's gold snuif 
box, was born in 1814, in Westchester co., N. Y. 
His ancestors came from Holland about two hundred 
years ago, and settled in the district he now repre- 
sents. His grand-father was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tion, and in 1818, his father removed to the city of 
New York, where Col. Dyckman early received a 
liberal education. After leaving school he went into 
the mercantile trade, and was so engaged till about 
the year 1845, when he became a clerk in the Regis- 
ters office. At the breaking out of the Mexican war 
he enlisted as a private under Gen. Ward B. Burnett, 
who took command of the 1st Regiment of N. Y. 
volunteers. He was subsequently placed in command 
of company K. and landed on the island of Lobos, 
just previous to the taking of Vera Cruz. On the 



168 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

first Sunday after the landing at that city he led his 
company as skirmishers on the sand plains near its 
wall and held a position on the Orizaba road, under 
fire from nearly all the batteries of the city, and 
within hearing of the enemy, until after dark, when 
ordered to retire behind a sand bank. On the follow- 
ing evening he took possession of the Orizaba road, 
and by judiciously posting pickets, prevented all 
communication from the road to the city during that 
night. He afterwards took a position with his com- 
pa'^iy. within half a mile of six hundred of the enemy, 
to prevent their entrance to the city, and performed 
constantly scouting duty around the walls and roads 
of the city during the same time. At Nueva Rancho 
he engaged and sustained a charge of six hundred 
lancers, holding the position until relieved by Col. 
Burnett, and was unsurpassed at Sierra Gordo for his 
gallantry and bravery. He led his company in the 
celebrated charge at Cherubusco and remained in 
advance of his command, under the sharpest fire of 
musketry experienced during the war, cheering his 
men on to battle, until he fell, as was supposed, 
mortally wounded, by a ball received between his 
shoulders, which still remains in his body. Whenever 
there was any chance for a brush with the enemy, he 
never said to his men - go," but always said " come," 
as he would never permit either officer or private to be 
• in advance of him. For bravery like this he received 
his subsequent distinguished promotions, and was 
awarded Gen. Jackson's gold snuff box as " the most 
valiant in defense of his country and his country's 
rights." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 169 



VOLNEY EDGERTON. 

Mr. Edgerton was born in 1815, in Cazenovia, Madi- 
son county, N. Y., and is of English and Scotch de- 
scent. His parents, who are now dead, came from 
Connecticut and settled in Madison county, about 
forty-five years ago. After his father's death, his 
mother removed to the town of Phelps, Ontario 
county, where he now resides. He has had the ad- 
vantages of an academical education, which he re- 
ceived wholly through his own exertions, after he 
was tweijty years of age, at the Lima seminary, in 
Livingston county. At the age of twenty-four he 
married Miss Martha Sheriff, and about the same time, 
engaged in teaching, which he followed till 1843, 
when he removed to Michigan. He remained in that 

r 

state four years, engaged in the manufacture of the 
oil of peppermint, and then returned to Ontario county, 
where he has since been chiefly oc6upied as a farmer. 
He has held various town offices; is now Justice 
of the Peace; and in 1857 was the successful compe- 
titor for the seat he now holds. He was formerly a 
Democrat; supported Van Buren, in 1848, and Hale 
in '52, and is now an industrious and influential mem- 
ber of the Republican party. He is a member of the 
Methodist church; stands high in the community 
where he resides ; and is a very useful member of the 
House. 



15 



170 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



ALBERT EMANS. 

Mr. Emans was born in 1818, at East Fishkill, 
Dutchess county, N. Y., and now lives in Lagrange. 
His parents were natives of that county ; his father 
died in 1854, and his mother is still living, at the age 
of sixty. He received a common school education, 
and at the age of twenty-three married Miss Susan 
Hasbrook, and commenced farming, in which he has 
always since been engaged, besides speculating in grain 
and fatted cattle. He has held various town offices, 
and in 1855 was a member of the Assembly, w^here 
he proved himself an industrious and useful repre- 
sentative. He was re-elected in 1857, and is again 
one of the leading Democrats in that body. He has 
always adhered with unyielding tenacity to the prin- 
ciples of the Democratic party, and since a voter, 
has been one of the most active and effective poli- 
ticians in Dutchess county. He is a member of the 
Dutch Eeformed church, to which he has belonged 
for twenty years, and sustains a high reputation 
wherever he is known. 



PHILIP W. ENGS. 

Mr. Engs was born in Newport, R. I., on the 28th 
of May, 1790 — the same day on which that state entered 
into the Union. His paternal ancestors were Ger- 
man, and settled in Boston about the year 1700, and 
his mother's family came from England, about two 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 171 

hundred and twenty-five years ago, and were among 
the first purchasers of Martha's vineyard, on Nan- 
tucket. His parents were both natives of Rhode 
Island, and lived to a good old age. Mr. Engs received 
a common school education, and has been engaged in 
the mercantile business, in the city of New York, 
since the age of fifteen. He has held the offices of 
Alderman and Commissioner of the Alms House, 
besides being constantly, for a long series of years, 
connected with numerous financial, benevolent and 
religious associations, and was an active fireman for 
nearly a quarter of a century, filling consecutively 
every office in the department This is his advent 
into legislative life, but there are none in the House 
who surpass him for his untiring industry, exhaustless 
perseverance and unremitting attention to business. 
His first vote for President, was cast for Mr. Madison, 
and he adhered to the Whig party until Henry Clay 
was defeated in the Philadelphia convention, in 1848, 
when he became a Democrat, and has always since 
clung to that party. He was married in 1812, to 
Miss Anna Townsend Franklin, by whom he has had 
ten children, and belongs to the Lutheran church. 



CHARLES ESTES. 

Dr. Estes is a native of Tiverton, Newport county. 
R. I., where he was born in 1812. His parents, who 
were of English and French descent, were born in 
that state, and removed to Berkshire county, Mass., 



172 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

when he was about four years of age. His father, 
Daniel Estes, still resides in that county, where his 
mother died about fifteen years ago. Dr. Estes was 
reared on his father's farm, and after receiving an 
academical education, commenced teaching, which he 
followed some ten years, receiving, at the same time, 
a thorough medical education. In 1844 he removed 
to New York, and began the practice of medicine at 
Nassau, Rensselaer county, where he remained about 
four years, after which he located in Macedon Centre, 
Wayne county, where he has since resided in the 
practice of his profession. About fourteen years ago 
he married Miss Sophia E. Sherman, of New Lebanon, 
-and has long been a prominent and influential member 
of the Methodist church. He is an earnest advocate 
of temperance and education, and to his individual 
exertions is due the largest share of the prosperity of 
the Macedon academy, one of the most thorough 
institutions in that section of the state. He was 
formerly a Democrat, and although now acting with 
the Republican party, still clings to what he regards 
Democracy in its true sense. He never held any 
public office till his election to the seat he now occu- 
pies, and has only recently taken much part in politics. 
His energy is exhaustless, and although not an idle 
member of the House, has only been prevented from 
taking a more active part in its deliberations by ill 
health. He is an excellent scholar; a finished writer; 
a successful business man; and distinguished for his 
uprightness, honesty, and sterling integrity. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 173 

EDWAED S. ESTY. 

Mr. Esty was born in 1824, at Ithaca, Tompkins 
county, N. Y. His father, Joseph Esty, is still living, 
and was one of the earliest settlers of that village. 
His paternal grand-parents emigi;ated from the vicinity 
of Boston to Cayuga county, N. Y., where his aged 
grand-mother, a descendant of the Pilgrims, still 
survives. His maternal ancestors were Dutch, and 
came from New Jersey. Mr. Esty attended the Ithaca 
academy till seventeen years of age, when his father 
deeming a trade the most independent calling for his 
son, required him to engage in the business of manu- 
facturing and dealing in leather, which he himself had 
successfully prosecuted. He was formerly a Henry Clay 
Whig, but early identified himself with the Republican 
party, and has taken the stump in behalf of its prin- 
ciples. He is a most excellent and successful busi- 
ness man, and was elected to his present position by a 
majority of over thirteen hundred. He was married 
in 1846 to Miss Amelia Wilgus, an extremely amiable 
and popular lady, by whom he has three children, and 
is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is one 
of the most promising young men in the House. 



DANIEL FISH. 

Mr. Fish was born in 1794, in Ira, Rutland county, 
Vt., and is of English descent. His parents, who are 
now dead, were natives of Rhode Island, and emi- 



17<fc BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

grated to Vermont in 1791. His father was a promi- 
nent member of the legislature of that state some 
fifteen years. Mr. Fish received a common school 
education, and at the age of seventeen commenced 
teaching, which he followed till he was twenty-one 
years old, when he^spent three years in a store as 
clerk. In 1818 he married Miss Amanda Akin, of 
Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., where he settled 
in 1821, and where he has always since been an exten- 
sive and successful farmer. He has held various 
town offices; is President of the Farmers' Bank of 
Lansingburgh; and is one of the substantial men of 
the House. He was formerly a Clay Whig, adhering 
with death-like tenacity to the gallant old ship till 
she went down; and is now a zealous Republican. 
He is not a professional politician, but never fails to 
vote. He is one of the pillars in the Methodist 
church. 



HENRY FISH. 

Dr. Fish was born in February, 1800, in Shelburn, 
Chittendon county, Vt. His ancestors were distin- 
guished for their longevity, and his paternal grand- 
mother lived to be one hundred and seven years of 
age. His father, who removed to Grotton, Tompkins 
county, N. Y., in 1806, was born in Connecticut, and 
his mother's family were from Berkshire county, 
Mass, Dr. Fish received a common school education, 
and at the age of eighteen began the study of medi- 
cine in Cayuga county, where he spent four years. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 175 

He then attended a course of lectures at a medical 
school in Pittsfield, Mass,, after which he returned to 
Grotton, where he passed a year, and then settled in 
what is now Schuyler county, where he has since 
been engaged in his profession. He has held various 
town offices; was Chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors three years; was side Judge from 1844 till the 
new constitution went into effect; and was elected to 
his present seat by a flattering vote. He has always 
been a National Democrat, and not an indifft^rent 
observer of the ordinary course of public events. He 
married his present wife, Miss Cilicia F. Hazen, in 
1851, and attends the Presbyterian church. He is a 
quiet, .unassuming, but substantial man. 



MICHAEL FITZGERALD. 

Mr. Fitzgerald is a native of London, England, 
where he was born in 1830, and is of Irish descent. 
In 1834 he came with his parents to the city of New 
York, where he and his aged mother still reside, his 
father having died in 1843. He received an ordinary 
English education, and at the age of fifteen served his 
time as a calico printer, at which he afterwards 
worked some six years. In 1851 he sailed for Cali- 
fornia, and passed a year as fireman on the Golden 
Gate, then running between Panama and the city of 
San Francisco. Subsequently he passed eighteen 
months in the mines, and returned to New York, 
where he has since been chiefly occupied in the police 



176 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

department of that city. He has also been long an 
active fireman there; always a Democrat; is still 
single; and was elected to the Assembly as an Inde- 
pendent candidate. He is a good, clever fellow, and 
one of the b'hoys. 

JAMES FRAZEE. 

Mr. Frazee was born in 1826, at Diirhamville, Oneida 
CO., N. Y., andis of English and Scotch descent. His 
paternal ancestors settled in New Jersey and his 
maternal, in Massachusetts, where his mother was 
born. His father was a native of Schoharie county, 
N. Y., and removed into Oneida county, when quite 
young. Both his parents are still living. Mr. Frazee 
was educated in a common school, and at the age of 
fourteen became a clerk in a store in Rome, where he 
remained about four years. He then settled in Bald- 
winsville, Onondaga county, where he has always since 
resided, and where he is now doing an extensive 
milling business. He has not till within a few years 
taken much interest in politics, being always a hard- 
working and industrious business man, and never 
held any public office until his election to the present 
House. He was formerly a Free Soil Whig, and was 
one among the first to enlist in the Republican ranks, 
when the Whig party ceased to exist. He was mar- 
ried in 1854, to Miss H. A. Thompson, a most excel- 
lent lady, and attends the Presbyterian church. He 
is an honest representative and the last man alobyman 
would approach. 



BIOGRArmCAL SKETCHES. 177 



S. W. FULLERTON. 

Mr. Fullerton is one of the most promising young 
men in the House, and was born in 1823, inMinisink, 
Orange co., N. Y., where both his parents, who are 
now dead, were born before him. He received a 
common school and academical education, and in 
1841, became a clerk in the post office at Newbiirgh, 
where he remained three years. He then returned to 
his native town where he studied and practiced law 
until 1850, when he removed to Newburgh, where he 
has since followed his profession. He has held the 
office of Supervisor, and was elected to his present 
position by a complimentary majority. He cast his 
first vote for Henry Clay and steadily adhered to the 
Whig party till it abandoned its organization, when 
he joined the Republicans. He was married in 1846, 
to Miss Mary E. Halstead, and attends the Dutch Re- 
formed church. He is a very useful member of the 
House, and not only works faithfully and intelligently, 
but efficiently. 



WILLIAM GAGE. 

Mr. Gage is a thorough bred American^ and was 
born in 1801, in the city of New York, where he has 
since chiefly resided. His parents were both natives 
of New Hampshire, and settled in New York, about 
the year 1794. His grand-father was a soldier in the 
Revolution, in which three of his brothers were killed. 
Mr. Gage had nothing more than the advantages of 



178 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

a common school, and at the age of seventeen became 
a clerk in the grocery business, in which he was 
engaged for himself from 1820 until 1837. He has 
since been four years Street Superintendent ; a member 
of the bureau of assessments in the street commission- 
er's department three years ; engaged in the coasting 
business; and within the past two years has been 
occupied in a steam boat line between New York and 
Troy. He has always been a National Democrat, 
and a pretty active politician. In 1823, he married 
Miss Rachel G. Brown, who died in 1854. He attends 
the Episcopal church, and is an invaluable man in the 
community in which he lives. 



JOHN GARRISON. 

Mr. Garrison was born in that part of Dutchess 
county that is now Putnam, and is sixty-two years of 
age. He is of English and Dutch descent. His father, 
Harry Garrison, was a native of Staten Island, and 
removed into Dutchess county in 1790, when he was 
about nineteen years of age. Mr. Garrison was 
educated at the Poughkeepsie academy, and has been 
a farmer ever since he was twenty years old. At the 
age of seventeen he recei^^d a commission in the 
militia from Gov. Tompkins, and was subsequently 
several years Colonel of the 61st Regiment. He was 
appointed Justice of the Peace at the age of twenty- 
one, and was side Judge of Putnam county, under the 
administration of Gov. Marcy. In 1833, he was a 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 179 

member of the Assembly; was the first Postmaster at 
Phillipstown, and is now Postmaster at Garrison, 
opposite West Point, where he resides. He has 
always been a Democrat, and an honest, sensible 
politician. He married Miss Martha Dominick, 
of New York, in 1819; and is a member of the 
Episcopal church, in which he has been an officer 
forty years. 



LORENZO GILE. 

Dr. Gile was born in 1814, in Stephentown, Rens- 
selaer county, N. Y., and is of English and Scotch 
descent. His father, a valiant Revolutionary sol- 
dier, was a native of Connecticut, and settled in 
Columbia county, New York, when he was quite 
young. Subsequently he went over into Rensselaer 
county. He is now dead, but his wife, the mother 
of the hero of this sketch, is still living. Dr. Gile 
received an academical education, and, with the 
exception of a few winters when he taught, he walked 
ten miles a day while going to school and until he 
finished his medical course in 1837. On the 4th of 
July in the same year he married and removed to 
Wayne county, where he practiced medicine nearly a 
year, after which he returned to Canaan, Columbia 
county, where he has since been a practicing physi- 
cian. He was Supervisor two years, and was elected 
to the present Assembly by a handsome vote. He 
was formerly a Democrat; supported Van Buren in 
1848; and is now a Republican. He married his 



180 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

present wife, Miss Harriet Cornwall, of New Leba- 
non, in 1852, and attends the Congregational church. 
He is a fine man, and a quiet, safe legislator. 



HARLOW GOD ARD. 

Mr. Godard is of French and Scotch descent, and 
was born in 1804, in Leyden, Lewis county, N. Y. 
His parents were from Connecticut, and are now 
both dead. He removed into St. Lawrence county 
in 1815, and is still a resident of Richville, in that 
county. He was reared on a farm, and received a 
common school and academical education. After 
leaving school he taught four years, and four years 
afterwards embarked in the mercantile trade, which 
he followed some fifteen years. Since then he has 
been chiefly occupied in the real estate business. He 
has held several town offices; has been Magistrate 
over twenty years ; was Loan Commissioner in 1842 
and '43; and was a member of the Assembly in 1849 
and '50. He was again elected in 1857 to the seat he 
now occupies, and has always proven himself an 
efficient and faithful representative. He is now, also, 
filling his second term as one of the Justices of the 
Sessions. He was originally a Democrat; supported 
Van Buren in 1848; now drills in the Republican 
ranks; and has always been an active politician. He 
was married in 1828 to Miss Mary Ann Rich, and 
attends the Baptist church, to which his wife belongs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 181 

C. B. GREEN. 

Mr. Green is a native of Stephentown, Rensselaer 
CO., N. Y., and was born in 1809. His parents, who 
are now dead, were natives of the same town, and were 
of English and Scotch descent. He received a com- 
mon school education, for which he is entirely indebted 
to his own exertions. In 1823 he removed, with his 
parents, to Chautanque county, where he has always 
since been a resident. At the age of twenty-seven he 
entered the law office of Judge Mullet, in Fredonia, 
and was admitted to the bar of the county courts in 
1842. Since then he has been practicing in Ellington, 
where he now resides, and is partially occupied in 
farming. Mr. Green has held various town offices; 
was Supervisor two consecutive years; Town Clerk 
ten years; Justice of the Peace eight years; and was 
elected by a large majority to the present House. He 
was always a Democrat till 1848, when he voted for 
Van Buren; and was among the first to take part in 
the organization of the Republican party. He was 
married in 1836 to Miss Lydia Kent, of an adjoining 
town, who was the first white child born in that 
town. He attends the Methodist church, and is an 
exemplary man. 

16 



182 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JOHN HAGGERTY. 

Mr. Haggerty was born in Big Flatls, Chemung co., 
N. Y., and is about thirty-five years of age. He is of 
Irish and Dutch descent, and was reared on a farm. 
He subsequently turned his attention to the mercantile 
business, and is still so engaged. He held several 
town offices before his election to the present Assembly^ 
and has never failed to discharge his duties as a public 
servant with credit to himself and fidelity to his con- 
stituents. He was formerly a staunch National Whig» 
and adhered to that party till it ceased to exist, when 
he became a National Democrat. He is a quiet, in- 
dustrious member of the House; straight-forward and 
honest in every thing he does; still a single man; and 
passionately fond of little children. 



MONROE HALL. 

Mr. Hall was born in 1807 in Jay, Essex co.,N. Y., 
where he has always resided. He is of English descent. 
His father, who died in 1827, was from New Hamp- 
shire, and his mother, who is still living, is a native 
of Vermont. Mr. Hall received an academical educa- 
tion and passed some time in Brown university, which 
he left in consequence of a defect in his left eye. In 
1841, he embarked in the mercant le trade, which he 
followed till 1857, employing himself extensively at 
the same time in the iron business, on Ausable river, 
and in dealing in a large amount of real estate which 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 183 

was left him by his father. He is now a successful 
farmer and a practical surveyor. He has held various 
town offices, and is a capable and efficient member of 
the House. He was a strong Whig till 1848, when 
he mounted the Buffalo platform on which he stood 
until the Barnburners went back to the Democratic 
ranks, when he again joined the Whigs, with whom 
he remained till he became a Republican. He married 
his present wife. Miss Emma Prindle Wells, in 1854; 
belongs to the Baptist church; and is a Temperance, 
man, both in practice and in principle. He is em- 
phatically a gentleman. 



THOMAS G. HALLE Y. 

Col. Halley was born in Albany co.. N. Y., in 1809, 
and in 1817, removed, with his parents, from the city 
of Albany, to Verona, Oneida county, where he still 
resides. His father came from Scotland, in 1804, and 
his mother, when an infant. They are now both dead, 
having lived to a good old age. Mr. Halley is a self- 
educated man, having had no schooling after he was 
thirteen years of age. His father died when he was 
quite young, leaving him alone to take charge of the 
family, and he is wholly indebted to his own exertions 
for whatever he may have since accomplished. He has 
always been chiefly engaged in boating and farming, 
and has been three years Canal Collector. He has also 
held various town officers, and has proven himself a 



184 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

very valuable and useful member of the House. He was 
always a zealous Whig, and at the dissolution of that 
party, joined the Republicans. In 1836, he married Miss 
Sophronia Peggs who, with himself, is a member of 
the Methodist church. He is a quiet, clever man, 
and deservedly popular among his legislative associ- 
ates and the people. 

JOHN M. HAMMOND. 
Mr. Hammond is the grand-son of a Revolutionary 
■soldier, and is of English descent. He was born in 1811, 
in Chenango county, N. Y. , where his parents settled 
In 1806. His father, Jonathan Hammond, who is still 
living at the age of seventy-seven, was born in Massa- 
chusetts, and his mother, in Vermont. In 1831, he 
removed with his parents to Allegany county, where 
he has since resided. In the same year, he married 
Miss Eliza Ann Gillette, and commenced farming. 
In 1840, he also engaged in the mercantile and 
lumbering business, besides being an extensive con- 
tractor. He was appointed Superintendent of the 
Genesee Valley canal in 1851; first brought its second 
•division into use; and again held the office in 1854 
ftnd '55, since which time he has been exclusively 
engaged in farming. He has held numerous town 
offices: is now Supervisor, and was elected to the seat 
he now fills by over one thousand majority. He was 
originally a Whig; is now an active Republican; and 
is an earnest advocate of the cause of Temperance. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 185 

9 

He attends the Christian church; is a good repre- 
sentative; a man of sterling integrity, and his honest 
face commands the respect of all who see him. 



JOHN H ANFORD. 

Mr. Hanford is probably the finest looking man in 
the House, being tall and handsomely proportioned, 
with dark hair, eyes, and whiskers, and a good na- 
tured, rosy face. He was born in 1817, in Norwalk, 
Conn., and is a descendant of the Rev. Thomas Han- 
ford, one of the first settlers of that state. Both his 
parents are now dead, and his father, who died when 
he was quite young, was a commissioned officer in 
the war of 1812. Mr. H. received a common school 
education, and at the age of fifteen went to the hat- 
ter's trade, at which he worked till 1853, when he 
engaged in the real estate business. In 1836 he 
married Miss H. E. Moore, and in 1838 removed to 
Williamsburgh, N. Y., where he now resides, and 
where he has been doing an extensive business. He 
was a trustee of the village of Williamsburgh two 
terms; Deputy Sheriff of Kings county from 1847 un- 
til 1850; a member of the Assembly in 1856 and '57, 
and was again re-elected to the present House. He 
has always been a zealous Democrat, and an active 
politician; is a man of fine social qualifications; and 
in his legislative career has proven himself an intel- 
ligent and efficient representative. 



186 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

« 

DAYID M. HARD. 

Mr. Hard was born in Watertown, Conn., in 
1788. He is of English descent, and his parents 
were both natives of that state. He was edu- 
cated at a common school, and remained on his 
father's farm till he was nineteen years old, when 
he became a clerk in a store. In 1813 he re- 
moved to New York, and settled in New Lisbon, 
Otsego county, where he has since resided, and 
where he, was engaged in the mercantile trade, as 
one of the firm of Hard & Peck, until 1846. He 
then engaged in tanning in that place and Honesdale, 
Penn., which he followed till 1856, since which time 
he has been farming. He held various town offices 
previous to 1857, when the people of his district se- 
lected him as a member of the present House. He 
was formerly a Whig of the Henry Clay school, and 
although a quiet man, has always been an active and 
influential politician. He was married in 1817 to 
Miss Malinda Hickox, and belongs to the Episcopal 
church. He is a man of more thought than words, 
and is by no means recreant to the interests of his 
constituents. 



HENRY R. HART.' 

Mr. Hart was born in 1812, in the village of Clin- 
ton, Oneida county, N. Y., and is of English descent. 
His father, who, with his mother, is now dead, was 
a native of Connecticut, and settled in that village 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 187 

in 1792. Mr. Hart was liberally educated at the 
Geneva academy and at a select school at Rome, and 
in 1828 went into an office of his father, who was 
largely engaged in the iron trade, where he remained 
till 1833, when he became a partner in the estab- 
lishment, and is still so engaged. He is now doing 
an extensive business and is one of the most success- 
ful, industrious, and correct business men in that 
section of the state. He has held the position of 
Alderman; was eight years captain of the Utica 
Citizens' Coi'ps, of which he was one of the origi- 
nators; and ran far ahead of his ticket when elected 
to the present House. He was a Democrat till 1840, 
when he became a Whig and adhered to that party 
till 1848 when he again joined the Democracy. He 
married Miss Mary W.Dodd in 1848, and attends the 
Episcopal church. He is a quiet, practical legislator. 



JOHN S. HENDEICKSON. 
Mr. Hendrickson sprung from good, old, substan- 
tial Dutch stock, and was born in 1823, in Flushing, 
Queens county, L. I. His parents were both natives 
of the island; his father is dead, and his mother still 
living. Mr. H. was educated at a common school, 
and was a farmer until 1850, when he removed to 
Hempstead, in the same county, where he has since 
been successfully engaged in the mercantile business. 
He held the office of Supervisor in 1856 and '57, and 
is again a candidate for re-election. He has always 
been an industrious, shrewd politician, and a Demo- 



188 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

crat of the most uncompromising character. He was 
married in 1847, to Miss Elizabeth. Burtis, and at- 
tends the Presbyterian church. He is a free-and- 
easy, generous-hearted man; a good representative; 
and very popular among his legislative compeers. 



ASA HODGE. 

Mr. Hodge was born in 1816, in Neversink, Sullivan 
county, N. Y., and is of English and Scotch descent. 
With the exception of three years which he spent in 
Grahamsville as a merchant, he has always resided in 
that town, engaged in farmiiVg. * His father, who is 
now dead, and who was a native of Connecticut, was one 
of the pioneer settlers in that section of the state, and 
having been reared in what was then a wilderness, 
Mr. Hodge never received more than about six months' 
schooling. Since then, however, he has been a dili- 
gent student, and is now a good business English 
scholar. He has held several town offices, including 
that of Supervisor, and was elected to the seat he now 
occupies by a most complimentary vote. He was 
originally a Democrat, and was among the first to 
enlist in the American cause, to which he still adheres 
with unyielding tenacity. He was married in 1843 to 
Miss Julia A. Krum, and usually attends the Methodist 
church. He is a very quiet, unassuming man, and 
strictly honest both in public and private life. 
Although uninitiated in the tricks of political gabblers 
he is too closely attached to right and principle to be 
successfully affected by their thieving designs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. l89 

LEVI S. HOLBllOOK. 

Mr. Holbrook was born in 1807 in Pompey, Onon- 
daga county, N. Y., where he has since chiefly resided. 
His parents were from New England, and were among 
the early settlers in Onondaga co. His father died when 
he was quite young, leaving him and an older brother 
in charge of the family, which precluded all opportu- 
nity of his getting more than a very ordinary common 
school education. At the age of eighteen he engaged 
as an apprentice and journeyman, in the manufacture 
of leather at Syracuse, where he remained five years, 
when returning to Pompey he continued in the same 
business till about twelve years ago, when he turned his 
attention to farming. He has filled numerous town 
offices, and has been Supervisor five consecutive years, 
holding the position of chairman of the Board in 1855. 
He is also excise commissioner, and was sent to the 
present House by a handsome vote. He was always a 
Seward Whig till the organizattion of the Republican 
movement, when he became a member of that part}'-. 
He married Miss Fidelia Woodward, in 1831, and at- 
tends the Union church. He is one of the most quiet 
and industrious men in the House. 



JOHN C . HOLMES. 

Mr. Holmes, the gentlemanly and popular proprietor 
of the "Mills House," at Gloversville, Fulton county, 
-N. Y., is of Yankee descent, and was born in Mont- 



190 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

gomery county, in 1812. His father was a gallant 
soldier in the war of 1812, and received a wound in 
the battle of Qiieenstown, which finally in 1814, caused 
his death. Mr. Holmes received a common school 
education, and having, like his father, served his time 
at the blacksmith's trade, followed mechanical pur- 
suits in the city of Troy until 1839, when he removed 
into Hamilton county, and took charge of the Lake 
Pleasant House, which he kept till the spring of 
1857, when he became proprietor of the Mills House, 
the largest hotel in the state outside of the city of 
New York. He has been Postmaster at Lake Pleasant ; 
Clerk of Hamilton county, twelve successive years; 
and a Justice of the Peace eight years. He has 
always been a genuine Democrat of the National 
Conservative stamp, and has secured the reputation 
of a sound common sense legislator. He married 
Miss Mary Jane Carlin in 1835; and is a free thinker 
in matters of religion. He is a large, robust, fine, 
frank looking man, and has a heart as warm as his 
physically strength is great. Persons going into that 
section of the state to pass the hot summer, will do 
well to call upon Mr. Holmes at the Mills House, where 
they will find all the comforts that can be desired. 



F R S T H R T N . 

Mr. Horton was born in 1806 in Yorktown, West- 
chester county, N. Y. He is of English and French 
descent, and his parents were both natives of that 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 191 

town. His father, Wright Horton, is still living, at 
the age of eighty-two, and his mother is dead, Mr. 
H. received a common English education, and at the 
age of seventeen went to the blacksmithing, at which 
he worked some five years after the expiration of his 
apprenticeship. At the age of twenty-one he removed 
to the village of Peekskill, where he now resides. 
In 1835 he engaged in the foundry business and the 
manufacture of agricultural implements as one of the 
firm of Minor, Horton & Co., which continued 
twenty years. The firm is now Horton & Defew, 
and he is doing an immense business. He has held 
various town offices, including Supervisor which he 
has filled three years. He was originally an Old Line 
Whig, and is now a staunch and zealous American. 
He was married in 1828 to Miss Phoebe Tompkins; 
attends the Quaker church; and is one of the most 
industrious, useful, and substantial men in the House. 



GEORGE HOWELL. 

Mr. Howell was born in 1829 in Goshen, Orange 
county, N. Y., and is of Welsh and Irish descent. 
His ancestors were among the first settlers on Long 
Island, and his grand-father removed when quite 
young to Orange county, where his parents were 
both born. Mr. Howell received a common school 
education; worked at the printing business from the 
age of fourteen until he was twenty; and has since 
then studied and practiced dentistry. He removed to 



192 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Riverhead, Long Island, about seven years ago, 
where he now resides. lie has always been a very 
active politician, but never held any public office till 
his election to the present House, lie has never been 
anything else than a Democrat, of the Hard Shell 
stamp, and at his election to the Assembly, was the 
first Democrat who had carried his town for fifteen 
years. In 1856 he married Miss Sarah L., daughter 
of Luther Slddmore, and usually attends the Sweden- 
borg church. He makes a good representative, and 
is a man of much personal popularity. 



EBER W. HUBBARD. 

Dr. Hubbard was born in 1797, in Steuben, Oneida 
county, N. Y. While very youog, his parents, who 
were natives of Connecticut, removed into Jefferson 
county, and thence to Lorain county, Ohio, where his 
father, Fairchild Hubbard, is still living, at the age 
of eighty-eight. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Ward, died at the advanced age of eighty. Dr. 
H. was chiefly educated in the Fairfield academy, in 
Herkimer county, receiving, at the same time, instruc- 
tions from a clergyman in the languages, and received 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the college of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, in 1822. Since 
then he has followed his profession, save when em- 
ployed in official duties. In 1826 he located in 
Lorain county, Ohio, and while in that state entered 
prominently into the political contests of that peiiod. 
He held the office of Justice of the Peace three terms, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 193 

and in 1831 was elected associate Judge of Lorain 
county, for a term of seven years. During tlie years 
1836, '37 and '38, he was a member of the lower 
branch of the Ohio legislature, and in I8b8 received 
the entire Democratic vote of that body for Speaker. 
He held the office of Bank Commissioner in 1839 and 
'42, and in 1843 was elected Acting Canal Fund 
Commissioner. While occupying this position he 
obtained, in connection with the Hon. John Brough, 
Auditor of State, a loan of $1,500,000, in the cily of 
New York, to pay arrearages to contractors on the 
Ohio canals. 

During the prevalence of the cholera in 1849, Dr. 
Hubbard was attacked, through excessive professional 
labor, with inflammation on the lungs, and after seventy- 
three days' confinement to his bed, gradually improved 
until he was able to go South, where he spent the 
winter in Florida, and where his health improved, 
returning to Ohio in the spring. In 1853 he re- 
moved to Staten Island, where he now resides. He 
was elected to the seat he occupies by a majority 
over the combined American and Republican vote- 
He was married in 1828 to Miss H. M. Kingsbury; is 
a sound, reliable man; a faithful representative; and. 
has always been a National Democrat, 



A. HUTC HINSON. 

Mr. Hutchinson is of English descent, and was bora 
in 1811, in Remsen, Oneida county, N. Y. His- 
17 



194 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

parents were natives of Connecticut, and settled in 
Oneida county about the commencement of the present 
century. In 1816, they removed into what is now 
Orleans, then Genesee county, and located on the same 
farm on which the subject of this sketch is now livinsj . 
Mr. Hutchinson received a common school educa- 
tion, and has ahways been a farmer, besides teaching, 
during the winter, from 1828 till '34. He was a 
member of the House in 1857, and has proven him- 
self a capable and efficient representative. He was 
formerly a Whig, and took part in the organization 
of that party; was then a prominent Libert}'^ party 
man; and is now an earnest and iniluential Republicanj 
He married Miss Mary G. Short, in 1845; and is a 
member of the Congregational church. He is a 
leading member of the House; a man of sterling 
integrity; has a capacity for facts and figures seldom 
surpassed; is a good, off-hand debator; and has the 
^ strongest voice in the House. 



\ GEOEGE A. JEREMIAH. 

Mr. Jeremiah was born in 1826, in the city of New 
York, where his parents, who are still living, w^ere 
born before him. He received an academical educa- 
tion, and at the age of fifteen went to the trade of a 
wheelright, at which he has always since been ex- 
tensively engaged. He has been some time connected 
with the schools of New York; was elected to the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 195 

seat he now holds by over one thousand majority, has 
always been a Democrat and an active politician; is a 
married man; and a good, clever fellow. 



^ JOHN H. JONES. 

Mr. Jones was born in 1812, in Leicester, then Gene- 
see, now Livingston co., N. Y., and is of English and 
Irish descent. His mother was a native of New Jer- 
sey, and his father, who removed to Bedford county, 
Penn., and thence, in 1788, to Geneva, N. Y., was 
born in Maryland. Both his parents are now dead. 
Mr. Jones received a common school education, and 
has always been engaged in farming. He has h-eld all 
the town offices in Moscow where he resides, and was 
two years Loan Commissioner under Gov. Seymour, 
He has always been closely attached to the Demo- 
cratic party and its principles; wields much more 
than ordinary influence over his political coadjutors; 
and was elected to his present position by a compli.- 
mentary vote. He was married in 1835 to Miss Julia 
Jones, and is a man of worth and influerffce in the 
community where he resides. 



THOMAS JONES, JR. 

Mr. Jones has always been a Hard Shell Democrat, 
and carried the first resolution that was ever passed 
in New York in favor of Gen. Cass, in 1844, at Rome. 



196 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

He took the stump in Pennsylvania in support of Mr. 
Buchanan in the last national contest, and is now in 
good favor with the Federal Administration. Mr. 
Jones was born in 1823 in Steuben, One da co., N. Y., 
and is an only child. His parents, who are now dead, 
came from Wales towards the close of the last century, 
and settled in the city of New York, from whence 
they removed into Oneida county. He received a 
liberal common school education, and was deputy 
Surrogate of Oneida county from 1845 till 1848. He 
was then principally occupied in teaching until 1847, 
when he married Miss Margaret S. Farquharson, and 
-engaged in the insurance business which he still fol- 
lows. He removed to the city of New York in 1852, 
where he is now editor and proprietor of the Insurance 
Monitor and Wall Street Review. He has been a mem- 
ber of the common council in that city, and while 
occupying the position, was chairman of the finance 
-committee. He is an active and industrious member; 
a man of fine social qualities, and probably the most 
'fluent and popular speaker in the House. 



WILLIAM B. JONES. 

Mr. Jones was born in what was then Tioga Point, 
now tlie village of Athens, Penn., and is forty-five 
years of age. He is of English and Welsh descent. 
His father was a Pennsylvanian, and his mother a na- 
tive of Massachusetts. Mr. Jones was educated in a 
common school, and came to this state about forty- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 197 

four years ago, with his parents, who settled in the 
valley of the Chemung river. He was always exclu- 
sively a farmer till about four years since, when he 
was admitted to the practice of the law. Since then 
he has been pursuing his profession, in connection 
with his farming, and has been successful in both 
callings. He held various town offices prior to his 
election to the present Assembly ; was formerly a 
Whig, and is now an anti-Lecompton Republican. He 
was married in 1833 to Miss Pricilia Ann Stephens; 
attends the MethodisI church, and is a man of the 
right stamp. 



WILLIAM F. JONES. 

Mr. Jones represents the second district in Allegany 
county, and resides in Wellsville, where he is a prac- 
ticing lawyer. He has held several town offices, and 
was elected to the seat he now occupies by upwards 
of eight hundred majority. He is a man of more than 
ordinary ability; is scrupulously correct in his habits, 
t- both in public and private life, and enjoys a very high 

degree of personal popularity. He discharges the 
responsibilities devolving upon him as a member of 
the House with industry, ability and fidelity, and 
watches over the interests of his constituents with 
jealous anxiety. He is about thirty years of age, and 
still single. 



198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

WILLIAM KALES. 

Mr. Kales was born in 1806, in the county of Mona- 
ghan, Ireland, and when about three years of age, 
came to the city of Albany, with his parents, who re- 
moved to Coventry, Chenango county, in ISIL He 
received a common school education, and was a farmer 
in Broome county from 1831 till 1840, when he re- 
moved to Lorain county, Ohio, where he was engaged 
in the mercantile and hotel business. In 1844 he 
returned to Chenango county, where he has since been 
exclusively engaged in farming. He filled various 
town offices in Ohio and where he now resides; cast 
his first vote for Gen. Jackson; supported Martin Van 
Buren in 1848, and is now a warm Republican. He 
married Miss Hannah Sheldon in 1830, and attends 
the Presbyterian church. He is a strictly honest, 
well-meaning man, and is scrupulously faithful in the 
discharge of his legislative duties. 



FRANKLIN I). KINGMAN. 

Mr. Kingman is a native of Worthington, Hamp- 
shire county, Mass., and is forty-five years of age. 
He is of English extraction, and his father, Josiah 
Kingman, is still living at Worthington. Mr. K. set- 
tled in Bergen, Genesee county, N. Y., in 1825, and 
is still a resident of that place. All his schooling, 
which amounted to but precious little, was received 
in the common schools of his native place, and his 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



199 



occupation has alv^ays been that of an honest farmer. 
He held several town offices before his election to the 
present House; was formerly an enthusiastic Whig, 
and is now a Republican, uncompromisingly opposed 
to the further extension of slavery. In 1854 he mar- 
ried his present amiable and intelligent lady, Miss 
Thodosia P. Smith, and is a worthy member of the 
Congregational church. He is in every respect a 
substantial man, and has performed an incredible 
amount of hard labor in his life time. 



REUBEN KNIGHT. 

Mr. Knight is a native of Boonville, Oneida county, 
N. Y. ; was born in 1814, and is of English descent. 
His parents were natives of Rhode Island, and 
about the beginning of the present century, settled 
in Oneida county on the same farm upon which the 
subject of this sketch is now living. Mr. K. received 
a limited common school education, and having worked 
at the carpenter and joiner's trade from the age of 
twenty-one until he" was twenty-five, turned his exclu- 
sive attention to farming, in which he is still engaged. 
He held the office of Supervisor in 1856; was always 
a Democrat until he supported Col. Fremont for the 
presidency, and in 1847 married Miss Roxana Whee- 
lock. He is kind, courteous and popular, and is at- 
tentive in the discbarge of his legislative duties. 



200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

JOHN W. L AB AR. 

Mr. Labar was born in 1807 in Northampton, Mont- 
gomery county, N. Y. His father was a native of 
the city of Paris; was a commissary in the French 
army, and came to this country with Lafayette, to 
take part in the Revolution. At the close of the war, 
he settled in Connecticut, and subsequently removed 
to Montgomery county, N. Y., where he died. His 
wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, who is 
also dead, was a French woman, though born in this 
country. Mr. L. was educated at a common school; 
followed mechanical pursuits about eight years, and 
then turned his attention to real estate, in which he is 
still a dealer. He never held any public position till 
his election to the present Assembly; was formerly a 
Democrat till 1844, since which time he has always 
acted with the anti-slavery party. He removed into 
Niagara county in 1833; married Miss Almira Palmer 
the year previous, and belongs to the Wesleyan 
Methodist church. He is one of the most quiet and 
gentlemanly members in the House, and is very well 
qualified for the position of a legislator. 



FORDYCE L. LAFLIN. 

Mr. Laflin is one of the most popular young men in ' 
the House, and discharges his legislative duties with 
entire credit and satisfaction. He is a native of 
Blandtbrd, Hampden county, Mass. ; was born in 1824, 



UIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 201 

and is of Irish and Scotch extraction. His parents 
are natives of Massachusetts, and in 1836 removed to 
Saugerties, Ulster county, N. Y., where they and the 
subject of this sketch still reside. Mr. Laflin received 
an academical education, and in 1842 became a clerk 
in the jobbing house of Page & Hall, in Boston, where 
he remained till 1845, when he entered the extensive 
gun powder establishment of Laflin (his father) & 
Smith, at Saugerties, in which he became a partner in 
1849. The firm now is Laflins, Smith & Boies, and is 
operating very extensively in the manufacture of gun 
powder, having various branch establishments in dif- 
ferent parts of the country. Mr. L. has held the office 
of Supervisor two years; was President of Saugerties 
in 1851; has always been a strong, active, National 
Democrat, and a man of great personal popularity, 
running far in advance of his ticket when elected to 
the Assembly. He was married in 1851 to Miss Helen 
M. Burtt, and attends the Dutch Reformed church. AH 
unite in calling him an extremely clever fellow, and a 
fair representative of Young America. 



TRUXTON G. LAMB. 

Mr. Lamb was born in 1811, in Columbus, Che- 
nango county, N. Y., where he now resides. His 
father, Joshua Lamb, is still living, and is a native of 
Massachusetts, and his maternal grand-father w^as a 
brother of Obediah German*, at one time a member 
of the Ignited States Senate from this state. Mr. 



202 * BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Lamb received a common school education, and has 
since chiefly followed the plow. He has held the 
office of Town Superintendent, and Supervisor; and- 
was elected to the Assembly by a handsome majority. 
He was originally a Democrat; voted for Van Buren 
in 1848; early identified himself with the Republican 
movement; and is an earnest advocate of temper- 
ance. He married his present wife, Miss Mary North- 
up, of Otsego county, in 1857; is a member of the 
Universalist church; and a representative of whom 
his constituents may well feel proud. 



ALBERT P. LANING. 

Mr. Laning is a prominent Democratic leader 
in il]^ House, and is a very fluent and forcible speaker. 
He was born in Burlington, Otsego county, N. Y., in 
1820, and is of English and Irish descent. His 
father, who wa's a Methodist minister, and a member 
of the Genesee Conference some twenty years, was a 
native of New Jersey, and settled in Tompkins 
county in 1799. Mr. L. received an academical 
education; studied law with Judge Shankland, of 
Cortland county; and was admitted to the bar in 
1845. He then followed the profession in Allegany 
county till about two years since, when he removed 
to Buffalo, where he succeeded to the practice of 
Judge Masfen, of the Superior Court, in that city. 
He never occupied any public position before his 
election to the present legislature, but has always 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 203 

been an active and industrious member of the Demo- 
cratic party. He married Miss Ester N. Pulling in' 
1843, and attends the Episcopal church. He is very 
industrious and effective in the discharge of his legis- 
lative duties, and is very popular both in and out of 
the House. 



SAMUEL A. LAW. 

Mr. Law is a native of Delaware county, N. Y.; 
is thirty-eight years of age, and resides in the same 
mansion in which he was born. He passed his col- 
legiate life in Hamilton college; studied law with 
the Hon. A. J. Parker, then of Delaware county, and 
completed his professional studies in the Law de- 
partment of Yale college. In 1838 he accompanied 
an elder brother, then in bad health, to southern 
Georgia, where, surrounded by the "peculiar insti- 
tution," he fully informed himself of its effects upon 
the white and black races. He subsequently took a 
tour through the sea-board slave states, which con- 
firmed the results of his previous observations, and 
he returned home a confirmed opponent, under con- 
stitutional restrictions, of the system of American 
slavery. In 1839 Mr. Law commenced the practice 
of the law, at Erie, Pa., where, in 1841, he married 
Miss Kate H., daughter of Samuel Hayes, Esq. 
Owing to the declining health of his father, he 
abandoned his profession, in 1843, and returning to 
Delaware county, became what he still continues to 
be, a farmer. He has always taken a deep interest 
in the subject of agriculture; was President of the 



204 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Delaware County Agricultural society, from 1850 to 
1855, has frequently been Clerk of his native town; 
has been an acting Justice of the Peace during the 
past five years, and was elected to the legislature by 
a handsome plurality. He was a National Whig 
until the complete disorganization of that party, when 
he became a zealous American. He is now the leader 
of that party in the House; is a verj- profound, useful 
and efficient representative, and would be a welcome 
guest at the table of a duke, or feel perfecty at home 
in the cottage of a peasant. 



EDWARD A. LAWRENCE. 

Mr. Lawrence was born in Flushing, Queens county, 
N. Y. ; was twenty-five years old the same day on 
which he was elected to the legislature; and now re- 
sides in the same old mansion in which his ancestors 
lived a century and a half ago. He is of English de- 
scent, and a descendant of one of the oldest families 
in that section of the state. He received a common 
English education; was reared on a farm, and has 
always been a farmer. He has held the office of Su- 
pervisor four years; is now Vice-President of the 
Queens County Agricultural society; and has always 
been a Democrat of the Hard Shell school. In 1855 
he married Miss Hannah, daughter of ex-Mayor 
Mickle, of New York, and belongs to the Quaker 
church. He is the youngest member in the House; 
very attentive and industrious in the discharge of his 
duties, and never fails to attract, by his fine, frank, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 205 

manly, personal appearance, the attention of the 
stranger, on first entering the Assembly chamber. 



HARRIS LEWIS. 

Mr. Lewis was born in Chenango county, N. Y., and 
is about forty years old. He removed into Schuyler, 
Herkimer co., when he was quite young, and although 
then poor and almost penniless, now owns the farm 
on which he then worked as a hired hand. He is 
chiefly engaged in farming, but devotes much of his 
time to surveying and settling estates. He has for 
many years been an active magistrate and a leading 
man in his county; was a prominent member of 
the Assembly in 1857; and ranks high among his 
associates in the present House. He was a thorough- 
going, zealous Whig till the organization of the 
Republican movement when he at once identified him- 
self with that party. He is a member of the Baptist 
church; a man of few words, but possesses a large 
share of sound, practical common-sense, which 
qualifies him well for a representative position. But 
few men, indeed, are better qualified to take charge 
of the interests of the state than Mr. Lewis. 



JARYIS LORD. 

Mr. Lord is a native of Ballston, Saratoga county, 
N. Y., and was born in 1816. His parents came 
18 



206 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

from Conn., and his mother is still living. He re- 
ceived a common school education, and removed into 
Monroe county about twenty years ago. He was 
chiefly engaged in farming till about three years 
since, since which time he has been an extensive 
canal and railway contractor. He never held any 
ofiice until his election to the present Assembly; was 
the first Democrat ever elected in his district; was 
married in 1855 to his present wife, Miss Ezilpha 
Tibbitts; attends the Presbyterian church; and is a 
substantial legislator. 



JAMES H. LYNCH. 

Mr. Lynch is a clothing merchant, residing in Suffolk 
street, in the city of New York, and was elected to 
the seat he now occupies by upwards of two thou- 
sand majority. He has always been a Democrat, and 
quite an active politician. He is an attentive and 
industrious member of the House; a fair speaker; 
uses no pearls of poetry or flights of fancy, but deals 
altogether in the purest Anglo-Saxon. He is about 
thirty years of age. 



ANGUS McINTOSH. 

Mr. Mcintosh hails from the venerable county of 
Schenectady, and is about forty-five years of age. He 
is a successful farmer, residing in Duanesburgh, and 
is a leading Republican in that town. He is a man 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 207 

of considerable ability, and a firmness of purpose that 
was probably unsurpassed by " Old Hickory " himself. 
He is an industrious and successful law-maker, and is 
a far better representative than the people of " Old 
Dorp" have had in the legislature for some years. 
He is now a widower; a church-going man, and sus- 
tains a fair reputation in every relation of life. 



WILLIAM J. McK OWN. 

Mr. McKown is of Irish, Dutch and French descent, 
and was born in 1811, in the city of Albany. His 
parents, who are still living, are both natives of Albany 
county. He was liberally educated, and in 1844 re- 
moved to Oneida county, where he now resides. He 
has always been chiefly employed in farming and 
droving; never heldany public office until his election 
to the present House, and was always a staunch, con- 
sistent Whig till the inauguration of the Republican 
movement. In 1842 he was married to Miss Lydia 
L. Barton, and attends the Presbyterian church. He 
is an excellent business man, and wields a large influ- 
ence at home and in the discharge of his legislative 
duties. 



CHARLES McLE AN. 

Mr. McLean was born in 1809, in New Hartford, 
Oneida county, N. Y. His parents, who are now dead, 
were natives of this state, and removed to Coopers- 



208 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

town, Otsego county, in 1818. Subsequently they 
removed to Cherry Valley, where the subject of this 
sketch now resides. Mr. McLean was educated at the 
old Cherry Valley Academy; served his time as a 
printer with his father, who was then publishing the 
Gazette at that place; and in 1830, went to Jamestown, 
Chautauque county, where he published a Democratic 
paper about a year. Returning to Cherry Valley he 
then became sole editor and proprietor of the Gazette, 
which he conducted till 1846, when he was elected 
County Clerk. At the close of his official term he 
again published the Gazette two years, after which he 
was Postmaster till 1853, when he was elected to the 
Assembly. In 1834 he married Miss Mary Judd, and 
attends the Presbyterian church. He has held various 
town offices; was Justice of the Peace twelve years; 
has always been a strong, influential Democrat, and is 
a faithful and intelligent representative. 



ANDREW J. McNETT. 

Mr. McNett is of Scotch extraction, and was born in 
1819, in Henderson, Jefferson co., N. Y. His paternal 
grand-father was killed in the Revolution, and his father 
who was a captain in the wai' of 1812, was presented 
with a sword by Gen. Brown, for his gallantry at Sack- 
ett's Harbor. His father is a native of Massachusetts; 
his mother of New York, and they are both still 
living. Mr. McNett received an academical educa- 
tion; was admitted to the bar in 1847; and in '48 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 20& 

located in Buffalo, where he is now engaged in the 
prosecution of his profession. In 1855 he was elect- 
ed Attorney to the corporation of that city, and held 
the office till January, 1858. He was married in 
1847 to a daughter of Calvin Clark, of Jefferson 
county, and usually attends the Presbyterian church. 
He is an ardent Democrat, with a strong political 
backbone ; and is one of the leaders of that party in 
the House. He possesses a strong native vigor of 
intellect, and is a successful law-maker. 



JOHN MATHER. 

Mr. Mather was born in Middlesex, Yates county, 
N. Y., where he has always resided, and is about forty 
years of age. He is of English and Dutch descent. 
His father came from Connecticut, and his mother 
from New Jersey. Mr. M. was educated in a common 
school; was reared on a farm; has always been a 
farmer; and during the last five years has also been 
engaged in the mercantile trade. He has filled suc- 
cessively nearly all the town offices, and was Chair- 
man of the Board of Supervisors in 1852. He was 
always a AVhig till that party disbanded, when he 
joined the Republicans. He was married in 1842 to 
Miss Mary Slayton; is a most uncompromising ad- 
vocate of temperance; and belongs to the Congrega- 
tional church. He is a valuable man in the commu- 
nity where he resides, and was a proper person to 
come to the legislature. 



210 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

DAVID MILLER. 

Mr. Miller hails from a section of country prolific 
of great men, having been born in 1824, in Livings- 
ton, Columbia county, N. Y. He received a common 
school education, and has always been a practical, 
thorough-going, and successful farmer. His father, 
who died, at the advanced age of seventy-three, was 
a farmer before him, and became rich by attending 
faithfully to his own business. Mr. Miller has held 
the office of Inspector of elections; was elected As- 
sessor three times, and in 1857 occupied the post of 
Supervisor. He was formerly an Old-Line National 
Conservative Whig, and adhered firmly to that party 
till it abandoned its organization, when he early 
became a warm supporter of the American move- 
ment. He was married in 1845 to Miss Eve Dick, 
and attends the Dutch Reformed church. He is a man 
of worth and influence at home, enjoying a high 
degree of personal popularity, and has proven him- 
self a sound, safe, practical member of the House. 



MAE TIN MILLER. 

Gen. Miller was born in 1816, in Greenbush, Rens- 
selaer county, N. Y., where he now resides. He is 
of Holland descent, and received a limited common 
school education, for which he is entirely indebted to 
his own exertions. He served an apprenticeship at 
the rope making business; worked a number of years 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 211 

at the carpenter's trade; and is now engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits. He held various town and village 
offices previous to his election to the seat he now 
occupies; was twice chosen President of Greenbush; 
and is now Chief Engineer of the fire department in 
that village. In 1834 he was commissioned by Gov. 
Marcy to the office of Lieutenant ; was regularly pro- 
moted to all the company and field offices; and in 
1842 was elected Brigadier-General of the 8th Bri- 
gade, of the militia of Rensselaer county, from which 
he was honorably discharged, in 1854, by Gov. Sey- 
more. He has always been a Democrat of the Jef- 
fersonian and Jackson stamp, and an active and in- 
fluential politician. He was married in 1847 to Miss 
Mary Ann Van O'Linda, of Albany county, a sister of 
the gallant and lamented Capt. Abram Van O'Linda, 
who distinguished himself in the Mexican war, and 
who fell, mortally wounded, at the storming of Che- 
pultepec. He is an energetic and practical man, and 
has proven himself a faithful representative. 



G. P. MILLS. 

Mr. Mills was born, in 1801, in Brookhaven, Suf- 
folk county, N. Y. His parents were of English de- 
scent; and natives of Long Island. Both his grand- 
fathers served in the Revolutionary struggle. Mr. 
M. was educated in a common school, and was al- 
ways a merchant till about fifteen years ago, when 
he turned his attention to farming. He was Post- 



212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

master ten years; a staff officer under Gen. Satterly; 
and Supervisor five years. He was married about 
twenty-one years ago, to Miss Sarah Hilliock, and at- 
tends the Presbyterian church. He is one of the 
oldest men in the House, and ranks as high in real 
worth as he does in age. If all legislators were like 
Mr. Miller, the country would be safe. 



EDWARD A. MOOBE. 

Mr. Moore is a descendant of good, old Dutch and 
English stock, and was born in 1823, in the city of 
New York, where he has always resided. All the 
schooling he has, was received before he was thirteen 
years of age, when he began to work for his father, who 
was then a builder, and who is now farming in West- 
chester county, continuing with him until in 1854 when 
he retired from business, which Mr. M. then took 
charge of himself, and is still so engaged. He was 
married in 1855, to a daughter of C. Concklin Burtus, 
and attends the Dutch Reformed church. He served 
upwards of five years in the fire department of New 
York, the greater part of which time he was foreman 
of a company; has always been a shrewd, active 
politician; and an unyielding Democrat of the Na- 
tional school. He is one of the most straight-forward, 
frank, and independent members in the House, and 

*' Keeps his eye ever fixed on the American eagle, 
Whom we as the proud bird of our destiny hail, 

For that wise fowl, you can never enveigle 
By depositing salt on his venerable tail." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 213 

JASON C. OSGOOD. 

Mr. Osgood was born in East Nassau, Rensselaer 
county, N. Y., in 1804. His father was a native of 
Columbia county, and his grand-father came from 
Vermont. His paternal grand-father was a Com- 
missary in the Revolution, and served during the 
war. Mr. Osgood received a limited common school 
education; worked at the clothier's trade and the 
manufacture of oil till he was sixteen ; and has since 
been a manufacturer and contractor, having con- 
structed more dredging machines and land excavators 
than any other man, perhaps, in the world. In 1834, he 
went to Virginia, as a contractor, where he remained 
about two years, and then, in 1843, removed to 
Troy, where he now resides. He was a member of 
the Assembly in 1853, and is the first Democrat ever 
elected from the city of Troy to that body. In 1833, 
he married Miss Aseneth Mayor, and attends the 
Baptist church. He is one of the solid men of the 
House. 



FLETCHER PALMER. 

. Mr. Palmer's parents came from New England to 
New York, towards the close of the last century, and 
his grand-father was a soldier in the Revolution. His 
father is still living, and his mother dead. Mr. P. 
received a common school education; was brought up 
on a farm; began to study law at the age of twenty- 
one ; was admitted to practice in the inferior courts, 



214 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

at the age of twenty- four; has been practicing in the 
Supreme court some sixteen j^ears; and has been 
living in Deposit, Delaware county, N. Y., since 1834. 
His present position is the first public office he has 
ever held, but he has already proven himself equal to 
its responsibilities. He was always a Democrat till 
1848, when he supported Van Buren, and is now an 
active Republican. He married Miss Nancy Peters, 
in 1840, and attends the Presbyterian church, He 
was born in Stanfords, Delaware county, N. Y,, and 
is forty-seven years of age. 



JOHN S. PALMER. 

Mr. Palmer is a merchant, residing in Deposit, 
Broome county, and is a Republican of the first water. 
He is apparently an industrious, upright and faithful 
member of the House, and is affable, sociable and 
pleasing, both in his disposition and habits. He is 
about thirty-five years of age ; is a man of family, and 
the author is assured, belongs to some religious de- 
nomination. Probably Broome county could not have 
sent a more capable man to Albany than Mr. Palmer. 



THOMAS PARSONS. 

Mr. Parsons is one of the most substantial, Indus* 
trious, and correct men in the Assembly. He has 
always an eye and an ear open to what is going on in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 215 

the House, and probably would not suffer anything 
of a corrupt or dishonorable character to pass through 
the ordinary parliamentary routine, under the guise 
of some general and inappropriate title, without his 
detection. He is a quiet, unassuming man, but has 
a strong native vigor of intellect and an iron temper- 
ament, and when once thoroughly aroused speaks 
fluently and forcibly. He is now a very extensive 
lumber dealer in Rochester; is about forty years of 
age; is a zealous Democrat; and occupies a high 
social and political position in the city in which he 
resides. 



IRA R. PECK. 

Mr. Peck was born in Massachusetts in 1810, and 
his parents were both natives of that state. He 
came with them to New York in 1818, and settled in 
East Bloomfield, Ontario county, where he has always 
since been engaged in farming. His education was 
all acquired in a common school, and he taught some 
years while a young man. He never held any public 
oflBce till his election to the present House; was 
formerly a Free Soil Whig; now a decided and 
influential Republican; was married in 1832, to Miss 
Clarissa Ann Hamlin, who died in 1833; and is a 
very worthy member of the Methodist church. He 
knows how to take care of his own interests and 
those of the people of the state. 



216 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

ZEPHANIAH C. PLATT. 

Mr. Piatt was born in 1805, in Plattsburgh, Clinton 
county, N. Y. His grand-father was among the first 
settlers in that section of the state. His father, who 
is still living, was born in Dutchess county, and his 
mother was born on Long Island. His maternal 
grand-father, Judge Tredwell, was one of the most 
prominent public men of his day, as was also his 
paternal grand-father. Mr. P. received an academical 
education; passed two years under the charge of his 
uncle, President Davis, of Middlebury college; and 
has always been a farmer, besides being also within 
the past twelve years engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness. He has held all the various town offices during 
quite a series of years; has always been a National, 
Conservative Democrat; a very decided supporter of 
the Temperance cause; was married in 1829 to Miss 
Anna E. Miller; and belongs to the Presbyterian 
church. He is a man of strong mind and good judg- 
ment, and is one of the most quiet, steady, indus- 
trious, honest, and useful workers in the House, 



CYRIL R AWSON. 

Mr. Rawson is a native of the old Bay State, and 
is fifty- five years of age. He is a mechanic, and 
taught school several years. He has been Inspector 
of schools, Town Clerk, Supervisor, and Session 



BIOGRAnilCAL SKETCHES. 217 

Justice where he resides, and was a member of the 
Assembly in 1857. He is an ardent temperance man; 
attends the Universalist church; and is very faithful 
and efficient in the discharge of his official duties. 



WM. P. RAYMOND. 

Mr. Raymond is a native of Berkshire county, 
Mass., and was born in 1814. His grandfather, 
Amos Raymond, was a Revolutionary soldier, and 
served under Gen. Sullivan. Mr. R. came to New 
York in 1817, and settled in Tioga county, where he 
now resides. He received a common school edu- 
cation, and is noW engaged in the honest occu- 
pation of a farmer. In 1845 he was elected a 
Justice of the Peace, which office he held four years, 
and held various other town and village offices prior 
to his election to the seat he now occupies in the As- 
sembly. He was always a radical Democrat till 
1855, when he abandoned many of his old political 
associates, and marshaled himself beneath the Repub- 
lican standard, where he has always since remained. 
He was married in 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Searle, 
and is a member of the Baptist church. He is an 
invaluable man at home and abroad; enjoys a high 
degree of personal popularity; is a faithful and indus- 
trious member of the House; and is doubtless destined 
to ascend still higher in the scale of usefulness and 

distinction. 

19 



218 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



TABOR B. REYNOLDS. 

Dr. Reynolds was born in 1821, at Wilton, Sara- 
toga county, N. Y., where he now resides. He is 
of genuine American descent; received an academi- 
cal education; and has always been a successful 
practicing physician. He held the office of Town Su- 
perintendent of schoolsjrom 1847 till '52; Supervisor 
from 1856 until March, '58; and was a Democrat up 
to 1855, when he joined the American party, to which 
he still firmly adheres. In 1843 he married Miss 
Sarah Ann Emerson, and is a church-going man. He 
is an industrious member of the House; has rendered 
himself popular among his legislative associates by 
his kind and courteous manner; has a good head on 
his shoulders; and a brave, generous heart in his 
bosom. 



RALPH RIG HARD S. 

Mr. Richards is of English descent, and was born 
in 1809, in Weathersfield, Windsor county, Vt. His 
father, Eli Richards, died in March, 1858, at an ad- 
vanced age. Mr. R. received a common school edu- 
cation, and passed some time at the Castleton aca- 
demy, in his native state. He was educated for a 
teacher, but is now an industrious and successful 
farmer. He came to New York in 1813, and settled 
in Hampton, Washington county, where he now re- 
sides. He held several offices, relative to schools, 
before his election to the present legislature, and has 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. .219- 

already established a reputation as a safe, practical 
representative. He was originally a Whig, and 
abandoned that party on account of its pro-slavery 
tendency, and has never failed to vote with the friends 
of freedom, regardless of party names. He has often 
spoken in public, both on the subject of slavery and 
intemperance, and has always been very anxious to 
suppress the two evils. He was married in 1848 to 
his present wife, Miss Mary Richardson, of West 
Poultney, Vt., and belonged to the Baptist church, 
till he left it in consequence of its- pro-slavery cha- 
racter. 



ALEXANDER ROBERTSON. 

Mr. Robertson was born in 1816, in Warrensburgh, 
Warren county, N. Y. His parents came from Scot- 
land about the commencement of the present century, 
and settled in the above town. Mr. R. was educated 
in a common school, and was exclusively a merchant 
from the age of twenty-one, until 1846, since which 
time he has also been engaged in tanning and lumber- 
ing. He held the office of Supervisor before his elec- 
tion to the seat he now fills ; was a Democrat till 
the organization of the Republican party ; was married 
to his present wife. Miss Jane Peck, in 1854, and be- 
longs to the Methodist church. He removed to Glens 
Falls, where he now resides, about ten years ago, 
and is a very prominent and useful man in the com- 
munity in which he lives. 



220 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CHARLES RUSSELL. 

Mr. Russell was born in 1809, in Shelbiirn, Chit- 
tenden county, Vt., and is of English descent. His 
parents were both natives of that state, and at the 
age of twenty-two he settled in Bombay, Franklin 
county, N. Y., where he is now residing. Mr. R. 
received, like the great majority of his legislative 
associates, a common school education; at the age of 
twenty-one worked out on a farm at stipulated wages; 
and has always since been a farmer, besides being, 
also, now engaged in the mercantile trade and dealing 
in cattle. He filled nearly all the customary town 
offices before he became a . member of the present 
House; was a Free Soil Whig before his avowal of 
Americanism; is an active and influential member of 
the American party; was married in 1832 to Miss 
Hannah Wright, of Williston, Vt. ; and attends the 
Methodist church. He is a very quiet man, averse 
to noise and display, and is a valuable member of the 
House. 



CHAUNCEYS. SAGE. 

Mr. Sage was born in 1816, in Verona, Oneida co., 
N. Y. His parents came from Massachusetts about 
fifty years ago, .and settled in that county. He received 
an academical education, and was exclusively a farmer 
till 1849, when he removed to Williamstown, Oswego 
CO., where he has since been engaged in the lumbering 
and mercantile business. He was Supervisor two 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 221 

years before his election to the Assembly; was a 
Whig till 1848, when he identified himself with the 
Free Democrats; and is now a Republican. He was 
married in 1844, to his present wife, Miss Lucy Lee; 
attends the Presbyterian church ; and occupies a very 
respectable position in the House. 



JOHN H. SALISBURY. 

Mr. Salisbury was born in Watervliet, Albany co., 
N. Y., in 1807, and is a descendant of Yankee and 
Dutch stock. His parents were both natives of this 
state, and his father, Henry Salisbury, is still living, 
at the ripe, old age of eighty-six. Mr. S. was edu- 
cated in common and select schools, and subsequently 
studied law with the Hon. John C. Wright, and was 
admitted to the bar of the County courts in 1841. In 
1848 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme 
court, and has always since successfully prosecuted 
his profession. He held the office of Superintendent 
of schools in 1844 and '45; was Inspector of common 
schools a series of years, and has proven himself one 
of the most sound, practical common-sense men in 
either branch of the legislature. He is a staunch, 
national Democrat, as were also all his ancestors, as 
far back as the adoption of the Federal constitution; 
and was married in 1831 to Miss Margaret Quacken- 
bush, who died in 1856. He then in 1857 married 
his present lady, Miss Eliza M. Herrick, of Schenec- 
tady county; and attends the Lutheran church. 



222 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JOHN G. SEELEY. 

Mr. Seeley is a fine, large, fresh, frank, good-na- 
tured looking man, who can be easily distinguished 
among the one hundred an^ twenty-seven members 
with whom he sits. He is about thirty-three years 
of age, and was born in the city of New York, where 
he has always resided. He received a limited com- 
mon school education, and served his time as a ship- 
carpenter. He was a member of the common council 
two 3^ears; has always been an unyielding Democrat; 
and is a very active politician. He is married, and 
attends the Baptist church. 



EDWARD W. SENTELL. 

Mr. Sentell is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 
was born in 1806. He is of English and Welsh descent. 
He emigrated to New York in 1824, and settled in 
Ontario county, where he remained till 1835, when he 
removed to Sodus, Wayne county, where he now 
resides. He received a limited English education, 
and served his time as a carpenter and joiner. Since 
then he has been an extensive contractor and miller, 
and is now devoting much of his attention to farming. 
He never held any public position previous to his 
election to the present Assembly, save that of Assess- 
or, which he filled five years, but is nevertheless 
well qualified to discharge properly many of the more 
important duties of a representative. He was three 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 223 

years Colonel of the 242 Regiment, as the immediate 
successor of Senator Williams; was a Whig until the 
organization of the Republican party; is a strong 
temperance man; was married in 1830 to Miss Debo- 
rah Harvey, of New Jersey; and belongs to the 
Methodist church. 



OSCAR F. SHEPARD. 

Mr. Shepard was born in 1813, in Middletown, 
Rutland county, Vt., and is of English descent. His 
parents were both natives of that state, and his 
father is still living, at tlie age of sixty-eight. When 
about thirteen years of age, he removed, with his 
parents, to the same town in which he now resides, 
in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He received an aca- 
demical education, and taught from the age of nine- 
teen until 1854, when he turned his exclusive attention 
to farming, in which he had been previously partially 
engaged. He has held various town offices; has been 
six years Magistrate, and still fills the office; was a 
Democrat of the Silas Wright stamp till he became 
a Republican in 1855; is strongly in favor of a Pro- 
hibitory Liquor Law; was married in 1838, to Miss 
Elizabeth Wilbur; is a member of the Congregational 
church; and an intelligent, honest, straight-forward, 
Independent and capable legislator. 



224 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JACOB L. SMITH. 

Mr. Smitli is a native of Germany, and was born in 
1826. He came with his parents to America when 
about three j^ears of age, and settled in the city of 
New York, where he has always since resided. He 
was educated in the city schools; has been engaged in 
the mercantile business; and is a pretty shrewd busi- 
ness man. He has been a member of the common 
council; always a Democrat and an active politician; 
is still single, and attends the Dutch Reformed church. 
Every member will recollect Jake Smith long after 
the Legislature shall have adjourned. 



ROBERT STAPLES. 

Mr. Staples represents the third district of Monroe 
county, and is sixty-four years of age. He has been a 
Justice of the Peace and Supervisor, and was a mem- 
ber of the Assemby in 1857. He is a staunch, un- 
wavering Republican, and is probably the strongest 
and most earnest advocate of temperance in the House. 
He is a man of family and attends the Methodist 
church. None are more quiet and faithful in the dis- 
charge of their legislative duties than Mr. Staples, 
Pie is a very useful man both in public and private 
life. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 225 



CHARLES J. STEVENSON. 

Mr. Stevenson was born in 1814, in Wallkill, Orange 
county, N. Y., and is of Irish descent. His father 
was a native of Ireland, and his mother was born in 
Orange county. Mr. S, never attended school after 
he was twelve years of age, and is greatly indebted to 
his own exertions for what education he now possesses. 
At the age of fifteen he went to the wheelwright trade, 
at which he worked some five years after the expira- 
tion of his apprenticeship. He was then chiefly en- 
gaged in the forwarding business till 1850, when he 
sailed for California, where he remained in the mines 
till 1854, when he returned to Orange county. He 
never held any public position save that of Town 
Clerk till his election to the present legislature; has 
always been a National Democrat; was married in 
1836 to Miss Elizabeth M. Middlebrook, a native of 
Connecticut, and is a very quiet, industrious and 
gentlemanly member of the House. 



ROBERT STEWART. 

Mr. Stewart is a native of Fenner, Madison county, 
N. Y., and was born in 1815. His parents, who are now 
dead, came from Scotland about the year 1800, and set- 
tled in Montgomery co. Mr. Stewart received a com- 
mon school education; was reared on a farm, and has 
always been a merchant, engaged in the manufacture 
of woolen goods and high wines. He has filled several 



226 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

town offices, and has thus far proven himself a capable 
and efficient member of the House. He was always a 
Whig till the organization of the Republican party, 
which he immediately joined; is married; attends the 
Dutch Reformed church, and is probably the most 
quiet and attentive man in the Assembly. 



DANIEL B. STRONG. 

Mr. Strong is forty-five years of age, and was 
born in Windham, now Ashland, Greene county, N. Y., 
where he still resides. His parents were natives 
of Connecticut, and settled in Greene county toward 
the close of the last century. Mr. S. received an 
academical education; clerked in his father's store 
about ten years; and then carried on the establish- 
ment himself, in connection with a farm and tannery. 
He followed tanning about six years when the estab- 
lishment was burnt out, and he kept the store about 
ten years. He then embarked extensively in the 
manufacture of wool hats, but was again burnt out 
in the spring of 1857, and is now wholly occupied in 
farming his father's old place. He has held the office 
of Supervisor three terms; was two years Colonel 
and one year Lieut. Colonel of the ll6th Regiment; 
has always been an unfaltering Democrat; married 
Miss Mary A. Peck, in 1836; attends the Presby- 
terian church; and is an exceedingly fine man. 



BIOGRAPHJCAL SKETCHES. 227 

EDMUND G. SUTHERLAND. 

Mr. Sutherland was born in 1815, in Plymouth, 
Chenango county, N. Y., and is of Scotch and English 
descent. His father was a native of Vermont, and 
his mother of Connecticut. Both his parents are 
now dead. Mr. S. received a common school and 
academical education; learnt the printing business 
in Troy, previous to which he lived in Sullivan, 
Monroe, and Madison counties, and subsequent to 
which he worked at his trade in New Orleans and 
elsewhere, finally in 1845, establishing hhnself at 
White Plains, Westchester county, where he is now 
editor of the "Eastern State Journal'' which he has 
published about thirteen 3'ears. He is a National 
Democrat; was a member of the Assembly in 1857; 
married his present wife, Miss Elizabeth Peck, in 
1850; and attends the Presbyterian church. He is 
always at his post in the House, and is an intelligent 
and faithful public servant. 



A. B. TAPPEN. 

Mr. Tappen was born in 1823, in Dutchess county, 
N. Y. His father, Archibald Tappen, was a native 
of the soil, and died in 1856. He was liberally edu- 
cated in the city of New York, and after leaving 
school studied law and was admitted to the bar. He 
now resides'in Westchester, and follows his profession 
in that county and New York. He has held the 
office of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor in West- 



228 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

farms, where he has resided about seven years, taking 
a prominent part in all the affairs of the town and 
county. He has always been a Democrat; was 
married in 1851 to Miss Susan, daughter of Lewis B. 
Butler; and attends the Dutch Reformed church. He 
does ample justice to the responsibility of his present 
position, and effectually serves the interests of the 
people and the county so intimately associated and 
identified with the great Metropolis. 



H. YAN AERNAM. 

Dr. Van Aernam was born in 1820, in Marcellus, 
Onondaga county, N. Y., and is of Dutch descent. 
His father, who died in 1841, was a native of the 
city of Albany, from whence he went into Onondaga 
county, and finally to Cattaraugus, where the subject 
of this sketch now resides. Dr. Van Aernam received 
an academical education, and studied medicine in the 
Geneva and Willoughby medical colleges, at the latter 
of which he finally graduated. He immediately 
turned his attention to the practice, and has been 
eminently successful in it. He was twelve years 
Superintendent of schools, discharging his duties with 
credit to himself and fidelity to those whom he repre- 
sented; and is now one of the most useful and efficient 
men in the legislature. He was originally a Henry 
Clay Whig, adhering to that party till she disbanded, 
when he joined the Americrn party, which he left in 
1856, on account of its being, in his judgment, too 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 229 

pro-slavery. In 1845 he married Miss A. M. Ethe- 
ridge; is a believer in the Universalist doctrine; a 
pungent, forcible writer; and a popular representative. 



BURT VAN HORN. 

Mr. Van Horn was born on the southern borders of 
Lake Ontario, in Newfane, Niagara county, N. Y.; is 
of English descent, and about thirty-five years of age. 
He was educated at the Yates academy, preparatory 
to entering college, and in the winter of 1845 and '46, 
became a student at Madison university. He re- 
mained there a short time, when his health failing, he 
was compelled to abandon his course and go South for 
his health. He is now extensively engaged in farming 
and the manufacture of woolen cloths in his native 
town, where he has always resided. He never occu- 
pied any public official position till he became a mem- 
ber of the present Assembly, but has proven himself 
fully adequate to a faithful discharge of the duties 
devolving upon him. He was a Whig till 1848, 
when he acted with the Free Soil party, which he 
soon abandoned, and again joined the Whig ranks, 
where he remained till the organization of the Repub- 
lican enterprise. In 1851 he married Miss Charlotte 
S. Goodell, and is a member of the Baptist church. 
20 



230 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. 

Col. Van Valkenburgh was born in 1821 in Steuben 
county, N. Y. In 1836 he attended school at Auburn, 
and subsequently studied law in the office of Messrs. 
Kogers & Hasten, in the city of Buffalo. He was a 
resident of that place during the " Patriot " excite- 
ment, and was a member of the City Guard, enjoying 
intimate personal relations with Gen. Sutherland, of 
the Patriot forces. Returning to Steuben county in 
1838, he completed his studies, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1843, since which time he has been prose- 
cuting a large and lucrative practice.- He was a 
member of the Assembly in 1852, and in the same 
year was appointed Colonel of the 60th Regiment. 
He was again a member of the House in 1857, and is 
now the leader of the Republican party in that body. 
He was formerly an enthusiastic Whig, and during 
the stormy political contest of 1840 was editor of the 
Constitutionalist, the Whig organ in Steuben county. 
He stands high in the present House as a legislator, 
and a man ; is an elaborate and forcible debater ; and 
is fully able to vindicate any position he may assume 
on any question. He is personally very popular, and 
well deserves all the kindness and confidence he has 
received at the hands of his constituents and his 
friends. He is the proper man in the proper place. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 231 

JOHN A. YOORHEES. 

Mr. Voorhees was born in 1798, where he now 
resides, in King?? county, and where his father and 
grand-father lived before him. He still retains in his 
possession the old family Bible which has been hand- 
ed down through successive generations from the 
year 1645. Mr. V. received a common school educa- 
tion, and was engaged in the mercantile business from 
1812 till 1833, when he turned his attention to farm- 
ing. He has held several town offices, including that 
of Supervisor, which he filled nine consecutive years, 
and was a member of the legislature of 1846. He 
has always been a Democrat of the Hard Shell 
school ; and has occupied an influential position in 
his party. In 1823 he married Miss Phoeba Ryder, 
and belongs to the Dutch Reformed church. He 
stands high in the section of the state in which he 
resides- 



AMBROSE WAGER. . 

Mr. Wager was born in Hillsdale, Columbia county, 
N. Y., and is about forty years of age. His great- 
grand-parents on his father's side were Germans. His 
grand-father was a Revolutionary soldier, and was at 
the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga. His 
grand-mother was a resident of Danbury, Conn., at 
the time it was burnt, and prepared the meals for 
Gen.' Washington during his temporary sojourn at her 
father's house. His father served in the war of 1812, 



232 BIOGRAPHIC A7i SKETCHES. 

and died in 1845. Mr. Wager graduated at Union 
college in 1839; studied law; and is now doing an 
extensive practice in Rhinebeck, where he resides. 
In 1850 he married a daughter of the Hon. Marshal 
P. Wilder, of Boston, who died in 1852, and in 1856 
was married to a daughter of Capt. Thomas Far- 
less, of Salem, Mass. He has held the office of 
Supervisor; was a member of the House in 1855; has 
always been a Democrat, from his earliest youth up, 
as were also his father and grand-father before him ; 
attends the Episcopal church; and is now one of the 
leading men in the legislature. 



S. H. WALKER. 

Mr. Walker is a native of Manchester, Vt., and 
was born in 1831. He is of English descent, and his 
father, Hiram Walker, is still living in Washington 
county, N. Y., where he settled in 1836. Mr. W. 
received an academical education; studied law; was 
admitted to the bar, but has not practiced any during 
the past three years, having engaged in the banking 
and real estate business under the firm name of S, H. 
Walker & Co., at Salem, where he now resides, and 
at St. Paul, Minnesota. His present position is his 
first adventr into public life, but he has thus far dis- 
charged his duties with great credit to himself and 
doubtless the most unlimited satisfaction to his con- 
stituents. In 1837 he was married to Miss Jennie 
M. McNett, of White Creek, and attends the Presby- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 233 

terian church. He is a shrewd, active business man; 
a fluent and forcible debater; and possesses qualifica- 
tions that make him troops of warm-hearted personal 
friends wherever he goes. 



NATHAN W. WATSON. 

Mr. Watson was born in 1818, in Canaan, Litch- 
field county. Conn., and is of Scotch and Dutch 
descent. His ancestors were among the earliest 
settlers of that state. His paternal grand-father was 
a soldier in the Revolution, and received a wound at 
Ticonderoga, which finally caused his death, Mr. 
Watson received a limited common school education, 
having been one of eleven children, with poor parents, 
and at the age of fourteen worked out among neigh- 
boring farmers at stipulated wages. At the. age of 
seventeen he went to Berkshire county, Mass., to 
learn tanning; remained there three years; returned 
to Connecticut, and engaged in the business on his 
own responsibility some three years. In consequence 
of the scarcity of bark, &c., he then abandoned the 
business; went to Greene county to superintend a 
tanning establishment for some parties in New York, 
and since 1850 hag been extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of sole leather, in Ulster county, where 
he now resides. In 1839 he married Miss Jane E. Ear- 
ner, of Berkshire county, Mass., and although not a 
member of any church, attends regularly, and con- 
tributes liberally to benevolent and religious objects 



234 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in his county. He was formerly a Whig, but in 1840 
joined the Democratic ranks, where he has always 
since remained. He is a very quiet, unassuming and 
sensible man ; has a sound judgment, which qualifies 
him admirably for a legislative position; is a man of 
high standing and respectability wherever he is known ; 
and is a very useful and reliable member of the House. 



WESLEY J. WEIANT. 

Mr. Weiant is one of the most quiet men in the 
House. The author has not the pleasure of his 
acquaintance, but judges him to be a man every way 
qualified for the position he now occupies. He never 
troubles the House with long-winded speeches or use- 
less talk, but discharges his duties in a manner that 
can not fail to secure the approbation of his con- 
stituency. 

GEORGE WEIR. 

Mr. Weir was born in 1813, in Providence, R. I. 
His parents both came from Ireland, about the close 
of the last century. He is indebted to his own indi- 
'vidual exertions for whatever educa^tion he may have, 
having been left alone, at the age of twelve, by the 
death of both his parents. He then served his time 
at the saddler's trade, and worked at it a short time 
after he was twenty-one years old, after which he 
connected himself with the Sunday press, and has 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 235 

since then been chiefly so occupied. He was four 
years School Commissioner in the city of New 
York; was a member of the Assembly in 1840, '41 
and '42, and as chairman of the standing committee 
on State Prisons in '42, made one of the most able 
reports on the subject of convict labor that was ever 
presented to a legislative body. He has always been 
a Democrat and a pretty active politician; is mar- 
ried; and by persuasion an Episcopalian. He is a 
shrewd man, and an excellent representative. 



JOHN S. WHEELOCK. 

Mr. Wheelock was born in 1824, in Bethlehem, 
Rensselaer county, N. Y., and is of Yankee and Scotch 
descent. His father, who is now dead, was a native 
of Mass., and his mother was born in the city of Al- 
bany. He received an academical education; studied 
law in BufFab, and was admitted to practice. He 
has never pursued his profession, however, mostly in 
consequence of ill health ; and now resides on a farm 
near the village of Lancaster, in Erie county. He 
has always been a sterling, uncompromising Demo- 
crat; married Miss Mary Powers, in 1842; usually 
attends the Presbyterian church, and is a capital 
man in eyery relation of life. 



236 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

RICHARD WINNE. 

Mr. Winne is a lawyer, residing in the city of New 
York, and was elected to the present Assembly by 
upwards of seven hundred majority. He has always 
been a straight-forward and consistent Democrat, and 
is the most quiet, inoffensive and good-natured man 
in the New York delegation. He has held several 
official positions in that city; stands well in the House, 
and is a man of good judgment and excellent charac- 
ter. ■ His constituents may well congratulate them- 
selves upon the faithfulness and efficiency of their 
representative at Albany. 



JOHN J. WOLCOTT. 

Mr. Wolcott was born in 1810, at Wenton, Oneida 
county, N. Y. His father, Samuel Wolcott, who was 
of English descent, emigrated from Weathersfield, 
Conn,, in 1800, and settled on Holland Patent, in the 
town of Wenton. He was consequently one of the 
pioneer settlers in that section of the state. He died 
on the 1st of January, 1857, at the age of eighty-two, 
universally respected by all who knew him, for his 
honesty and integrity as a man, his uprightness as a 
magistrate, his enterprise and benevolence as a citi- 
zen, and his sincerity as a Christian. Mr. Wolcott 
was reared on a farm ; was liberally educated in a 
common school, and since the age of twenty- one has 
been engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1834 he 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 237 

removed to Fulton, Oswego county, where he now 
resides. In 1844 he was appointed Loan Commis- 
sioner; held the position three years; was subse- 
quently Supervisor four years; was Chairman of the 
Board in 1854; in 1855 was elected President of the 
Oswego River bank, and v/as also President of the 
village of Fulton two years, resigning the office upon 
his election to the legislature. He was formerly a 
Radical Democrat, but now acts with the Republicans. 
He was married in 1835 to Miss Sarah, daughter of 
Ansel Fox, and attends the Presbyterian church. He 
was elected to his present position by nearly one 
thousand majority; is a most capable, industrious and 
efficient legislator; an active Temperance man, and is 
distinguished throughout the section of the state where 
he resides, for his enterprise, industry and benevolence. 



GEORGE WOLFORD. 

Mr. Wolford is a successful practicing lawyer in 
the city of Albany, where he has always resided since 
arriving at manhood. He held the office of Clerk of 
the Board of Supervisors in 1856, and was elected to 
his present position by a union of Americans and 
Republicans, having upwards of five hundred majority 
over his Democratic competitor. He was formerly a 
Whig, but was among the first to enlist in the organi- 
zation of the Republican movement. He is some- 
what above thirty years of age; makes a good repre- 
sentative ; and attends church. 



238 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



AGUSTUS WOODWORTH. 

Mr. Woodvrorth is about fifty-five years of age, 
and represents Seneca county in the Assembly. He 
held various town offices previous to his election to 
the seat he now fills, and has always been zealously 
attached to the Democratic party. He is a merchant 
residing in Lodi, and is a very worthy and exemplary 
man. He performs his duties faithfully in the House; 
is very kind, courteous, and unostentatious in his 
manners ; and is a professor of religion. 



MEMBEUS OF THE ASSEMBLY, 

With the Districts and Counties they represent, Post 
Office Address, and Politics. 

Hon. THOS. G. ALVORD, Speaker, Salina, Onon. co., Dem. 

Dis. Assemblymen. Counties. P. O. address. Pol. 

2, Chauncey M. Abbott, . Cayuga, Niles, R. 

4, Charles H. Adams,. .. Albany, Cohoes, A. 

3, C.W. Armstrong,.. .. Albany, Albany, D. 

3, Robert F. Austin, Jefferson, .... 3 Mile Bay,., R. 

4, Amos Avery, ........ Erie, , Evans, R. 

1, George Babbitt, Jefferson, .... Smithville, . . R. 

1, Dwight Bacheller, . . . Albany, Albany, A. 

1, Hezekiah Baker, Montgomery,. St. Johnsville, R. 

1, D. B. Baldwin, Cayuga, Weedsport, . . R. 

1, William Baldwin, .... Oswego,...*. Oswego, .... D. 

2, Washington Barnes,.. Steuben, Painted Post, R. 

2, Moses S. Beach, Kings,. .. .^. . Brooklyn .... D. 

2, Isaac Becker, Ulster, Arnoldston,. . A. 

2, Alfred Bell, Livingston, . . . Nunda, R. 

7, George W. Bleecker,. Kings, Brooklyn .... D. 

1, Henry Bliss, Chautauque, . . Sherman, .... R. 

1, Chauncey Boughton,. Saratoga, Half-Moon,.. A. 

1, N. Bouton,.. Cortland, .... Virgil, R. 

2, William Briggs, St. Lawrence, Ogdensburgh, R. 

2, Wm. Buffington, Jr., . Cattaraugus,.. Cattaraugus,. R. 

1, Lester M. Case, Madison...... Cazenovia, .. R. 



240 MEMBERS OP THE ASSEMBLY. 

Die. Aescmblyraen. ' Counties. P. O. address. Pol. 

10, John W. Chanler,.... New York,... New York, .. D. 

13, Davidl. ChatfieW,... New York,... New York, .. D. 

4, David M. Cbauncey, . . Kings, Brooklyn, . . . D. 

11, Noah A. Childs New York,. . . New York, . . D. 

2, Elihu C. Church, .. ., Jefferson, . .*. . Theresa, .... R. 

1, Homer Collins,. ,.... Lewis, Collinsville,.. R. 

1, Wilham Coppernoll,. . Herkimer,.... Ohio, R. 

14, Dunham J. Grain,.... New York,.,. New York, . . D. 

5, John A. Dayton, Kings, Brooklyn, . . . D. 

5, Arthur J. Delaney,... New York,... New York, .. D. 

3, H. B. Duryea, Kings, Brooklyn .... R. 

17, Garritt Dyckman, New York,... Harlem, D. 

1, Volney Edgerton,.... Ontario, Orleans, R. 

1, Albert I'^.mans, Dutchess, .... A^-thursburgh D. 

7, Philip W. Engs, New York,. . . New York, . . D. 

2, Charles Estes, Wayne, Macedon Gen. R. 

1, E. S. Esty, Tompkins, . . . Ithaca, , R. 

2, Daniel Fish, Rensselaer,... Valley Falls,. R. 

1, Henry Fish, Schuyler, .... Mecklenburg, D. 

2, Michael Fiizgerald, .. New York,.... New York, .. D. 

1, James Frnzee, Onondaga, . , . Baldwinsville, R. 

1, Stephen W. Fullerton, Orange, Newburgh, .. R, 

12, William Gage, New York,... New York, .. D. 

1, John Garrison, Putnam, Garrisons, . . . D. 

. 2, Lorenzo Gile, Columbia,.... Can'n 4 Cor's, R. 

1, Harlow Godard, St. Lawrence, Richville,. . .. D 

2, Charles B.Green,... Chautauque,. . Ellington,... R. 
1, John Haggerty...... Chemung..... Big Flats,. . .. D. 

1, Monro;3 Hall, Essex, ....... Jay, R. 

3, Thomas G. Halley,. . . Oneida, New London, R. 

1, John M. Hammond,.. Allegany,.... Fillmore,.... R. 
6, John Hanford, Kings, Williamsburg D. 

2, David M. Hard, Otsego, New Lisbon,. R. 

1, Henry R.Hart, Oneida, Whitestown,. D. 



MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. 241 

Die. Assemblj'raen. Counties. P. O. address. Pol. 

1, John S. Hendrickson, Queens. Busliville, . . . D. 

1, Asa Hodge, Sullivan, Giahainsvill^, A. 

3, Levi S. llolbrook, . .. Onondaga, . .. Pompey Cen., R. 

1, John C. Holmes, Ful. and Ham., Gloversville, . D. 

3, Frost Horton, Westchester,. Peekskill . . . . A. 

1, George Howell, Suffolk, Riverhead,.. . D. 

1, Eber W. Hubbar 1, . .. Richmond, . . . Bentley, D. 

1, Almanzor Hutchinson Orleans, Gaines, R. 

6, George A. Jeremiah, . New York, .. New York, .. D. 

1, J. \i Jones, Livingston,... M.oscovv, .... D. 

9, Thomas Jones, Jr.,. . . New York,... New York, .. D. 

3, VV. B. Jones, Steuben, Canisteo, . . . . R. 

2, W.F.Jones, Allegany, Wellsville,. . . R. 

2, William Kales, Chenango, ... Coventry..,. R. 

1, Franklin B. Kingman, Genesee, Bergen, R. 

4, Reuben Knight, Oneida, Boonville, . . . R. 

], John W. LaBar, Niagara, Lockport, ... R. 

1, Fordyce L. Laflin, . . . Ulster, Saugerties, . . D. 

1, Truxton G. Lamb,... Chenango, ... Columbus,... R. 

1, Albert P. Laning, Erie,,,, Buffalo, D. 

2, Samuel A. Lav/, Delaware, Meredith, A. 

1, Edward A. Lawrence, Queens, Flushing,. . . . D. 

2, Harris Lewis, Herkimer, .... Frankfort, . . . R. 

1, Jarvis Lord, Monroe, Rochester,... D. 

8, James H. Lynch, New York,... New York, .. D. 

1, Angus Mcintosh, Schenectady,. Duancsburgh, R. 

2, William J. McKown, Oneida, Waterville, . . R. 

1, Charles McLean, .... Ot&ego, Cherry Valley D. 

2, Andrew J. McNett, . . Erie, Buffalo, D. 

1, John Mather, ,... Yates, Middlesex, .. R. 

1, David Miller,.... Colundjia,.... Livingston,.. A. 

3, Martin Miller, Hensselaer,. . . Greenbush, . , D. 

2, GeorgoP.Mills, Suffolk, Bellport, .... D. 

L5, Edward A. Moore,. .. New Y^ork,.. . New York, .. D. 

21 ?c 



242 MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. 

Dis. Assemblymen. Counties. P. O. address. Pol. 

1, Jasou C. Osgood, .... Rensselaer,. . . Troy, , D. 

1, Fletcher Palmer, Delaware,.... Deposit, H. 

1, John S. Palmer, Broome, Deposit, R. 

2, Thomas Parsons, .... Monroe, Rochester,. . . D. 

2, Ira R. Peck,. Ontario, E. Bloomfield R. 

1, Zephaniah B. Piatt,.. Clinton,.,.... Fallsburgh, . . D. 

1, Cyril Rawson, Wyoming, . . . Eagle, , R. 

1, William P. Raymond, Tiog^, ...... . Owego, R. 

2, Taber B. Reynolds,.. Saratoga, .i.. Wilton A. 

2, Ralph Richar.ls, Washington, . Hampton, ... R. 

1, Alexander Robertson, Warren, Glens Falls, . . R. 

1, Charles Russell, .... Franklin, .... Bombay,.... A. 

3, Ciiaiincey S. Sage,. . . Oswego, Williamstown R. 

1, Jolin H. Salisbury, .. . Schoharie, ... Argusville, .. D' 

4, John G. Seeley, New York,. . . New York, . . D. 

1, Edward W. Sentell . . . Wi'yne, Sodus, R= 

3, Oscar F. Shepard, .. , St, Lawrence, Lawrenceville R. 

1, Jacob L. Smith, ,.... New York,... New York, .. D. 
3, Robert Staples, Monroe, ..... Brockport,. . . B. 

2, Charles J. Stevenson, Orange, Middletown, . D. 

2, Robert Stewart, Madison, Chittenango, . R. 

1, Daniel B. Strong, Greene, ... . Ashland, D 

2, E. G. Southerland,. ... Westchester, . While Plains, D^ 
1, Abraham B. Tappen, Westchester, . Fordham, ... D. 

1, Henry Van Aernam,.. Cattarangns, . Franklinville, R. 

2, Burt Van f lorn, Niagara, Newf'ane, .... R. 

1, R. B.VanValkenbiirgh, Steuben, Booth, R. 

1, John A. Voorhees,. ... Kings, Flatlands, ... D. 

2, Ambrose Wager, .. ., Dutchess, .. Rhinebeck, .. D. 
1, Thaddeus H.Walker, Washington,.. Salem, R. 

3, Nathan W. Watson,.. Ulster, , Kingston,... D. 

1, Wesley I. Weiant, ... Rockland,.... N.Haverstraw D. 

16, George Weir, New York, . . . New York, . . D. 

3, John T. Wheelock, . . Erie......... Lancaster,... D. 



ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES. 243 

Die. Aesemblymen. Counties. P. O. address. Pol. 

3, Richard Winiie, ..... New York,. . . New York, . . D. 

2, Joliii J. Wolcott, Oswego, Fulton, R. 

2, George Wolford, Albany, Albany R. 

1, Augustus Wood worth, Seneca, Lodi, D. 



ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEES. 

ff^ays and Means. — Laning, Van Valkenburgh ,Hubbard, 
Lord, Duryea. 

Commerce and JVavigaiion. — Hanford, Sentel, Grain, Fra- 
zee, Beach. 

Canals. — W. Baldwin, Richards, Wheelock, Hammond, 
Parsons. 

Rail Roads. — McNett, Godard, Haggerty, Halley, Souther- 
land. 

Banks. — Armstrong, Wolcott, Chauncey, C. Boughton, 
Wager. 

Insurance. — T. Jones, Jr., W. F. Jones, Dayton, Kales, 
Emans. 

Two-ihlrds and Three-Jifihs Bill. — Salisbury, Sage, Mills, 
W. B. Jones, Delaney. 

Colleges and Academies. — Cbanler, Bleecker, Edgerton, 
Hutchinson, Strong. 

Grievances. — Jeremiah, Bacheller, E. S. Esty, Voorhees, 
Russell. 

Privileges and Elections. — Grain, Austin, W. Baldwin, 
Watson, Mather. 

Petitions of Aliens. — Lynch, Lewis, Wheelock, Green, Os- 
good. 

Erection and Division of Towns and Counties. — Law, Raw- 
son, J. H. Jones, Ghatfield, Robertson. 

Claims. — Horton, Shepard, Engs, D. Fish, Stevenson. 



244 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES. 

Infernal JJffairs of Towns and Counties, — Lawrence, Gage, 
Strong, Babbit, Staples. 

Medical Societies and Colleges. — Reynolds, Hubbard, H. 
Fish, Van Aernam, C. Estes. 

State Charitable Institutions. — Engs, Hart, Woodworth, 
Gile, Briggs. 

Incorporations of Cities and Villages. — Weir, Laning, Rey- 
nolds, F. Palmer, E. C. Church. 

Manufacture of Salt. — Lord, Hendrickson, D. Miller, Hol- 
brook, D. B. Baldwin. 

Trade and Manufacture. — Laflin, Parsons. Seeley, Adams, 
Stewart. 

State Prisons, — Sutherland, Piatt, Moore, Abbott, Walker. 

Engrossed Bills. — Winne, Beach, Weiant, J. S. Palmer, 
Kingman. 

Militia and Public Defense. — M. Miller, Dyckman, Law- 
rence, Duryea, Raymond. 

Roads and Bridges. — Childs, Tappen, Holmes, Bliss, Lamb. 

Public Lands. — Hart, Haggarty, Becker, N. Bouton, Hall. 

Indian JJffairs. — Parsons, T. Jones, Jr., Mills, Buffington, 
Coppernoll. 

Charitable and Religious Societies. — Delaney, Bleeker, Fitz- 
gerald, Bell, Case. 

.Agriculture. — Emans, Voorhees, Hodge, Labar, Knight. 

Public Printing. — McLean, Howell, Moore, McKown, 
Avery. 

Expenditures of the Executive Department. — Smith, Garri- 
son, Dayton, Van Horn. Mcintosh. 

Expenditures of the Legislative Department. — Chauncey, 
Woodworth, Armstrong, Peck, Hard. 

Judiciary.— Wager, Winne, Tappen, Barnes. Fullerton. 

Joint Library Committee. — Law, Clianler, Plait, Woolford, 
Church. 



OFFICERS OF THE SENATE. 



Name, Office. County. 

Samuel P. Allen,. . . . Clerk Monroe,* 

James Terwilleger,. . Journal Clerk, Onondaga,* 

Henry J. Sickles, .... Deputy Clerk, , Orleans,* 

Asahcl N. Cole, Engrossing Clerk,. .. Allegany,* 

Charles N. Fairman, do do ... . Chetnung,* 

Henry W. Dwight, .. Sergeant-at-Anns,. . . Cayuga,* 

Simeon Dillingham, . Ass't do .... St. Lawrence,* 

Richard U. Owen, . Doorkeeper, Oneida,* 

Henry W. Shipman, 1st Ass't do Broome,* 

Samuel TenEyck,.. 2d do do Madison,* 

James C. Clark, .... 3d do do Warren,* 

George R. VValdron, Librarian, Madison,* 

Joseph Garlinghouse, Janitor, Cayuga,* 

N. A. Finnegan, . . .. Ass't Postmaster,.... Albany,f 

William Stephens,.. Bank Messenger,..,. " do f 

William Quin, Page, • • dof 

Dwight Reed, do Livingston,! 

C.E.Whitney, do ., , Albany,t 

T. Dexter, do do f 

W.J.Dunn, do dof 

Edwin Cooper do dof 

* Republican; f No Voter. 



OFFICERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. 



Name. Office. County. 

David Wilson, Clerk Albany,^ 

Edward O. Perrin, . . Ass't Clerk, Kirigs,f 

J. B. Cushman, Journal Clerk, One!da,f 

R. C. Bentley, Engrossing Clerk, . . Albany,^ 

George M. Van Nort, Senior Dep. do ..'Orange,|| 

J. Moreau Smith. . . . . Junior do do . . Erie,| 

Geprge B. Sherrill, . . Librarian, Washington,! 

Henry C. Wright, .... Ass't do Essex,f 

P. H. Lasher, Sergeant-at-Arms, . . . Dutchess,f 

George O. Jones, .... Ass't do .... Onondaga,§ 

John J. Rielly, Postmaster, New York,f 

John Nugent, Ass't do Westchester,f 

Peter Van Olinda, . . . Janitor, Rensselaer,! 

Jonas H. Bixby,.... Keeper of Assem. Ch. Delaware,! 

Peter J. Cooke, Doorkeeper, Saratoga,| 

John DaviB, . 1st Ass't do Erie,t 

James Swarthout, . . 2d do do Schoharie,! 

William P. Hackett,. . do do Albany,! 

John H. Anderson, . . do do ..... .. do J 

Ephraim Stewart,. . , do ....... . do ! 

A. V. V. Dodge, do do t 

Beter Sickles, ...... do Ulster,! 

C. D. Easton, do Albany ,J 

Jacob Snyder, do Columbia,! 

George W. Chadsey, do Albany,| 

! Democrat-, J American; $ National; H Mixed. 



I 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



WM. D. MURPHY, 

ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW, 

No. 94 STATE STREET, 

Having begun the practice in all the Courts of the 
State of New York, will promptly attend to all busi- 
ness entrusted to his care, and pay special attention 
to collections in all parts of the State, at the most 
liberal per centage. 

REFERENCES. 

Hon. Truman Smith, New York City, 

Hon. Samuel Lahm, Canton, O., 

Hon. John F. McJilton, Baltimore, Md., 

Hon. O. B. Whealer, Sullivan county, N. Y., 

Hon. George Y. Johnson, Albany county, N. Y., 

Cyrus Stevens, Esq., Albany, N. Y. 



STATE STREET, 
ALBANY. N. y. 



< • » » > — 



€• H, & T. J, RADCLIFF, ProprietorSi 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



YAN IIEUSEN & CHARLES, 

CHINA DEPOT, 

62 and 64 STATE STRBBT, 

AND 

7 and 9 NORTON STUEKT, 



We desire to call your attention to our Spring Stjck of 
China, Glass, Earthen Ware, all kinds of Metal Ware, Lamps, 
Gas Fixtures, and Fancy Goods, imported by ourselves di- 
rect from Europe. 

We believe the assortment we offer to b3 the largest in va- 
riety and extent in the United States, and that no house in 
the trade can afford to sell on better terms. We cheerfully 
duplicate any bill purchased in New York or Boston, thereby 
saving to Western Merchants an item of freight and break- 
age, worthy attention. 

::o. :jei 3m: o "^t ^a. Xj- 

We desire also to call your attention to the REMOVAL 
we contemplate in November next, from our present premi- 
ses to the New Marble Store now being (3rected on the site 
of the Mansion House, on Broadway, where with increased 
facilities we shall be enabled to prosecute our business with 
more pleasure, and we trust with increased success. 

Thankful for the patronage extended to us during the fif- 
teen years past, we trust to merit it during the years to come. 

Coal Oil and Lamps. 

N. B. We have the sale for this city of the best KERO- 
SENE, or COAL OIL LAMPS, and also the best OILS in 
use for the Lamps, at manufacturer's prices. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



NOTICE 

To the Members of tke Legislature and their 
friends who insit Albany, 



Proprietor of the only opposition Watch an 1 Jeweh-y 
Store in Albany, will be happy to see his former patrons as 
well as new, at his place, and will promise all such the best 
Goods in the Market, even by the single article, at a fair 
wholesale price, and positively from 10 to 33 per cent below 
the ordinary prices elsewhere, and more especially on Rare 
Watches of my own importation; ditto Diamonds and solid 
coin Silver Ware of my own make, 

N. B. As I manufacture, import and purchase wholly for 
cash, together with the large amount I dispose of every year, 
I can afford all goods in my line at Wholesale Rates to pri- 
vate customers as well as dealers. My motto— Every man's 
Money of Equal Value to me. 

For References enquire of every business man in Albany. 

No. 42 State Street, 

Si<fn of the Large Watch, Illuminated Clock and 
Gilt Eagle, only Opposition to the Retail Price System. 

BENJ. L. HOOD. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Wholesale and Iletail 

BOOK AND STATIONERY STORE. 



< • • ♦ » 



^5# m -Er^ - ^ta-siT -Era. .^^3^ .^ ^ 
No. 38 STATE STMEIilT, 

Young Men's Association Building, 

Invites the attention of purchasers to his assort- 
ment of BOOKS in the various departments of Litera- 
ture: 

SCHOOL BOOKS furnished at New York Wholesale 
Prices for Cash. 

SABBATH SCHOOL BOOKS, BIBLES, HYMN 
BOOKS. 

LIBRARIES, PUBLIC and PRIVATE, supplied on 
the most favorable terms. 

FOREIGN BOOKS imported to order. 

STATIONERY of every description for Merchants 
and Schools. 

[n?" Orders by Mail receive prompt attention. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



BOAHDMAN, G-HAY" & CO., 
ALBANY, N . Y., 

DOLCE CAMPANA ATTACHMENT 

AND 

CORRUGATED SOUNDING-BOARD 

PIANO FORTE 



With facilities for inanuftictiirmg which are unsurpassed 
in the Union, over Twenfy Years of Practical Experience, the 
most thoroughly prepared materials, and the best of work- 
men, Messrs. Boardman, Gray & Co. are determined fully to 
maintain their reputation for producing instruments which 
for Purilij and Richness of Tone, Durability and Elegance of 
Style and Fidish have no superiors. Seventeen First Pre- 
miums, Gold and Silver Medals, Diplomas, &c., have been 
awarded these Piano Fortes at different State, Institute and 
other Fairs. For Schools, Academies and other Educational 
Institutions, the Corrugated Sounding- Board Piano Fortes 
are especially valuable on account of their Unequaled 
Durability. Grand, Parlor-Grand and Square PIANO 
FORTES of every style. Plain and Ornamental. 

Perfect satisfaction guaranteed to every purchaser. 

Piano Fortes with or without the Dolce Campana Attach- 
ment. 

Illustrated Price Lists and Circulars furnished on appli- 
cation. 

WM. G. BOARDMAN,^ BOARDMAN, GRAY & CO., 

JAMES O. GRAY, S- .,, ,^ ^ 

SIBERIA OTT. ^ Mbany, JV, l. 



ilOGRAPHlCAL SKETCHES 



BY 



w 



ILLIAM D. MURPHY. 



i:: ^ 



